Senior County Rugby 2017

[TheGuv]

County Championships are back again. North in the top competiton. I think Durham are in the 2nd tier with Cumbria.

The 2017 Men’s County Championships sees 28 counties compete with each side being seeded using results from the previous three seasons.

Each team is divided into three tiers with 12 in Tier One, 8 in Tier Two, and 8 in Tier Three.

All tiers will play a minimum of three matches and a maximum of four. This will produce three finals, all to be played at Twickenham.

Promotion and relegation will now take place every two seasons with points accumulated from season one continuing into the following season.

This means counties will have the chance to cement their position in the most appropriate pool and avoid situations where the same teams are being promoted one year only to be relegated the next.

NORTHUMBERLAND:
Bill Beaumont Division 1 North
6th May - Lancashire v Northumberland
13th May - Northumberland v Yorkshire
20th May - East Midlands v Northumberland
28th May - North Winner v South Winner

DURHAM:
Bill Beaumont Division 2 Pool 1
Durham  V Cumbria : on Saturday May, 6 – Hartlepool Rovers Rugby Club – 3pm KO
Staffordshire  V  Durham – on Saturday May, 13 – Lichfield RFC – 3pm KO
Leicestershire  V  Durham – on Saturday May, 20 – Oakam RFC – 2.30pm KO

[Slam]

Here's the team for Saturday. I'm not sure on everyone's 'club'. But does anybody else think county rugby is spoiled if its's just another excuse for uni boys to play in? I fear it takes it away from the clubs - of whom it seems only 5 are represented.


1. Duncan Smith (Alnwick)
2. Hamish Burn (Alnwick)
3. Jake Ellwood (Northumbira Uni)
4. Ali Grieve ?
5. Michael Walton (Northumbria Uni)
6. Keith Laughlin (Blaydon)
7. Ben Gothorp (Alnwick)
8. Ollie Robinson (Northumbria Uni)
9. Andy Tait ?
10. Will Muir (Northumbria Uni)
11. Joe Young ?
12. Alex Clark (Northern)
13. Guy Pike (Percy Park)
14. Aedan Moloney (Northumbria Uni)
15. Tom Grimes (Blaydon)

Subs:
Carl Hill (Morpeth)
Triston Grant (Tynedale)
Tony Moody (Morpeth)
Michael Craigs (Morpeth)
Jack Elliott (Morpeth)
Ryan Murray (Northumbria Uni)
James Bird (Alnwick)

[Rinky Dinky]

Just wondering how North and Durham both have lads from Blaydon in the sides???

[LineoutGeneral]

Depends on where you live Rinky dinky not just your club. Durham had two lads who play for Harrogate in the starting xv today

[TheGuv]

Northumberland lost to Lancs last week. This week they take on Yorkshire

Whereas the Women’s team had been drawn almost exclusively from Novos RFC and Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, the Men’s team drew on players from nine different Clubs with eleven of the side making their County debut.

Once again, the crowd were treated to two sides playing to win and with no signs of ‘damage limitation’ demonstrating the desire to entertain even to the extent of frustrating their respective coaching teams! Northumberland opened the scoring through a try from stand-off Will Muir though by the twentieth minute catch and drive tactics from Lancashire at the lineout had brought them two tries by Evan Stewart and Antony Bingham, both of whom were playing on their home turf. That catch and drive again paid dividends for Lancashire with Reece Tomlinson touching down on thirty-five minutes. Right on half-time Northumberland defended well in their twenty-two but instead of kicking for touch tried running the ball, lost possession and gifted Lancashire another five points. With a conversion from Greg Smith, another Fylde player, Lancashire went in leading 24-5.

From the kick-off of the second half, Northumberland’s enterprising play brought a try from Michael Walton converted by Muir. This elicited a positive response from Lancashire with strong running from centre Connor Wilkinson, another Fylde player, scoring to push his team up to 29 points. Northumberland, playing with their heads up pulled back two converted tries from interceptions, the first from winger Aedan Moloney and then from full-back Tom Grimes with Muir adding both conversions. So, on sixty five minutes, Northumberland were just three points behind and scenting a possible upset as they attacked once more with pace. However, Northumberland knocked-on, Lancashire took advantage and scored a breakaway converted try. The away team kept coming back at Lancashire but that final pass proved elusive and two late converted tries from Lancashire gave the scoreline a flattering look for the home side.

Northumberland now meet Yorkshire on Saturday 13th May at Alnwick RFC with a three o’clock kick-off and they can take great heart from their performance with the passion and commitment of their players guaranteeing that we will once again be shown that County rugby is alive and kicking.

[TheGuv]

Yorkshire's team to line up against Northumberland. A pretty strong side with a couple of North East connnections in. Still waiting to see Northumberland's side again 

Although I've a rough idea of who the backs are. Durham are away to Staffs - they've not released the team either...

1. Dave Laverick, Hull Ionians
2. Francis Entressengle, Huddersfield (Ex Blaydon)
3. Rikki Stout, Hull Ionians
4. Joe Makin, Hull Ionians
5. Jake Brady, Harrogate
6. Josh Burridge, Wharfedale
7. James Briscoe, Sandal
8. Rob Baldwin (C), Wharfedale

9. Stephen Depledge, Sheffield RUFC
10. Calum Irvine, Hull Ionians
11. Simon Frewin, Sandal
12. James Tincknell, Wharfedale
13. Lewis Minikin, Hull Ionians
14. Jamie Broadley, Sheffield Tigers
15. Pete Swatkins, Sheffield Tigers

16. Tom Cotterill, Hull Ionians
17. Sam Brady, Harrogate
18. Ben Bell, Sandal
19. Dan Stockdale, Wharfedale
20. Chris Bell, Huddersfield
21. Isaac Green, Hull Ionians
22. Jamie Guy, Wharfedale (Former RGS pupil)

[TheGuv]

Northumberland team to take on Yorkshire. Just the 7 uni lads in this week 

1.   Tristan Grant (Tynedale)
2.   Cam Bell (Blaydon)
3.   Jake Ellwood (Northumbria University)
4.   Edward Bloodworth (Northumbria University)
5.   Alan Gregory (Northumbria University)
6.   Michael Walton (Northumbria University)
7.   Ben Gothorp (Alnwick)
8.   Keith Laughlin (Blaydon)
9.   Andrew Tait (Kelso)
10.   Will Muir (Northumbria University)
11.   Sam Busby (Novocastrians)
12.   Jeremy Nash (Novocastrians)
13.   Guy Pike (Percy Park)
14.   Aedan Moloney (Northumbria University)
15.   Tom Grimes (Blaydon)

16.   Tony Moody (Morpeth)
17.   Duncan Smith (Alnwick)
18.   Drew Dvison (Tynedale)
19.   Jack Elliott (Morpeth)
20.   Ryan Murray (Northumbria University)
21.   James Bird (Alnwick)
22.   Carl Hill (Morpeth)

[TheGuv]

Match footage online

[MR SPOCK]

Still think some selection depends on the old boy network

[Mugsy]

Is there an argument that, given the Universities' policy of not releasing any of their players to play for local clubs, they should be excluded from County sides?