The Alternative Match Report, Part Deux…
By Citizen Slacker
September 16 2011
For those of you who did not make it to a T.V. screen, Sandy Park, or indeed Eastwood Gardens, I can definitely confirm rugby took place this weekend at all levels of competition & ability.
Gateshead 4th team took to their pitch for an hour’s warm up, for 45 minutes of which we though it might be the 4ths playing the 2nd team, seeing as only one player had turned up from Ponteland, but much to the second team’s relief, both Ponteland & Sunderland turned up & turned out, ensuring that games took place.
Assuming my normal starting position, on the opposition 10 metre line, on the touchline, the game got underway but that is about as much as I remember of the first half, with the exception of an heroic move by one of the Sunderland forwards, throwing himself under a rolling maul, to slow or stop it, eventually doing neither.
I got on during the second half, starting in my favoured position of hooker, moving to blindside to get more pressure in to the front row. I like playing flanker, all the fun of front row without the neck strain. Again, my contributions are a little hazy, in part due to the bang on the head I received at the bottom of a ruck (I can definitely recommend the Cantebury Ventilator headguard) but also due to the few pints of Jarrow Bitter after the game. The only thing of real note was my charge back & tackle, not because of the 40 sprint I managed, not because it was a possible try saving tackle, not because I forced a knock on in the tackle, but the screaming cramp that followed, leaving my calf muscle like it had a concrete ball in it.
Gateshead 4s won 19 – 17, in a decent, closely competitive game. If the rumours are true then Sunderland are having issues as the club is based at Ashbrooke & in order to meet financial requirements the ground are putting on the rugby club, club members are looking at £180 membership fee this year. I hope not as they are another cracking community focused club in the North East & they deserve to remain a presence in the area.
There will be an enforced gap in reports, as Uncle Rupert has asked that the Falcons play at five past three next week, meaning I will miss the first competitive fixture of the season, against neighbours & rivals, Blaydon.
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Really?
I'm impressed Slacker, a 4th team doing a warm-up, and what's more for a whole hour, is a rare thing indeed.
