Berwick
Rugby
Football
Club
11 Derwentwater Terrace, Scremerston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2QY
Tel: 01289 302141
Email: admin@berwickrugbyclub.co.uk
Email: admin@berwickrugbyclub.co.uk
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This site is still under construction. Any comments, suggestions or aditional information please contact graham.brown@northumberland.gov.uk
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Berwick Holiday Park
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Berwick 7 - Murrayfield Wanderers 31.
The new Murrayfield back pitches were looking in fantastic order, after the extensive flood prevention preparation and ground work, and the installation of the SRU’s new all weather surface. With the weather being dry, this was not the pitch for today however, perhaps a disappointment to some of the Berwick players and supporters, who had thought they might be playing their first game on the artificial surface. The three remaining grass pitches had been resurfaced also and were like an immaculate bowling green, and all clearly well manicured. The new turf giving a perfect surface for open rugby the hardy crowd were looking forward to an exciting game. Berwick kicked off into the gale force cross wind with a much changed side due to call off’s. They had difficulty getting to grips with long passes, judging the wind and avoiding the fast Wanderers backs who were very aggressive in looking for loose ball and the interception. Berwick’s scrappy first tackles let the Wanderers build momentum and support, giving them an early try, easily converted, and a quick 7 points to the home side.
.
The Blacks gave away too many penalties, allowing hard fought and well won territory to be lost with long kicks down field with the wind, and an easy recovery for the home side. The Berwick pack were very dominant in the scrums, but neither the referee nor the Berwick back row gave any protection to Mark Laidlaw at scrum half. The Wanderers persistent and sniping scrum half, albeit often offside, was allowed to consistently spoil the feed from the back of the Berwick scrum, thus negating the forwards’ good work. A further breakdown was picked up by the Wanderers backs and their second try was confidently run in by their tall and elusive running No 12. Converted from in front of the posts their lead extended to 14 points. Scrappy play continued with no further points being scored in the first half.
The second half saw some changes to the Berwick team, with Watson going off with a knock and Richard Ayre coming on, and Matty McCreath taking to the field for his first game of the season. Teaming up with brother Ben, still determinedly helping the Blacks by squeezing in yet a further game before he goes abroad, Matty’s strategic and decisive use of the boot gained Berwick considerable territory, and consistently pinned the Wanderers back in their own 22. It looked like the wind would tell for Berwick, but the Wanderers defence turned out to be immense for the whole of the second half.
Berwick made a break through when a high kick downfield from McCreath bounced awkwardly for the Wanderers backs and was deftly collected by Hackett after an excellent chase - a runaway try under the posts followed, and also converted by Hackett, the Blacks bounced back into the game. A spell of continued pressure by Berwick failed to breakdown the Wanderers defence further however, and despite consistent attacks, Berwick were unable to add to the score. From within their own 22, the Wanderers consistently proved that attack is the best form of defence. Their backs were very fast off the mark on numerous occasions, having fed off spilled Berwick ball, and proved too elusive for the Berwick tackling. Their stature and fitness proved too good for Berwick and a try run in down the length of the pitch took them back into a strong lead at 21 - 7.
A further prolonged attack on the Wanderer’s line by Berwick, saw two Wanderers’ forwards yellow carded within 2 minutes for persistently killing the ball and stopping the Berwick attack. Despite being reduced to 13 Berwick were still failed to penetrate the home side’s impressive and stoic defence. Eventually another break out from within their own 5m line saw the home side rampage upfield and win a penalty in front of the Berwick posts, after a desperate scramble by the Berwick backs to snuff out what looked like another certain 7 points. Surprisingly the home side only took the kick and extended their lead to 24 - 7 .
The same scenario was repeated again, an enduring attack on the Wanderer’s line, no success again, and this time the breakout produced the home sides best try, with their left wing going over in the corner. Amazingly well converted from a very narrow angle on the touch line, with an excellent kick into the extraordinary wind, it was clearly Murrayfield’s day, running out 31 points to 7, the home side deserved their win.
The Blacks wondered what more they could do, being repelled again and again in their attacks on the Wanderer’s line. Size and strength was the key factor in Murrayfield’s favour, and they were stronger in the loose scrap, their forwards ripping the ball from Berwick and making good use of that advantage at the vital last minute. The wind was difficult for both teams but the home sides’ handling was simply safer and more effective than Berwick’s.
The Blacks are at Scremerston this coming weekend against Royal High Corstorphine, with a 3.00pm KO.
The new Murrayfield back pitches were looking in fantastic order, after the extensive flood prevention preparation and ground work, and the installation of the SRU’s new all weather surface. With the weather being dry, this was not the pitch for today however, perhaps a disappointment to some of the Berwick players and supporters, who had thought they might be playing their first game on the artificial surface. The three remaining grass pitches had been resurfaced also and were like an immaculate bowling green, and all clearly well manicured. The new turf giving a perfect surface for open rugby the hardy crowd were looking forward to an exciting game. Berwick kicked off into the gale force cross wind with a much changed side due to call off’s. They had difficulty getting to grips with long passes, judging the wind and avoiding the fast Wanderers backs who were very aggressive in looking for loose ball and the interception. Berwick’s scrappy first tackles let the Wanderers build momentum and support, giving them an early try, easily converted, and a quick 7 points to the home side.
.
The Blacks gave away too many penalties, allowing hard fought and well won territory to be lost with long kicks down field with the wind, and an easy recovery for the home side. The Berwick pack were very dominant in the scrums, but neither the referee nor the Berwick back row gave any protection to Mark Laidlaw at scrum half. The Wanderers persistent and sniping scrum half, albeit often offside, was allowed to consistently spoil the feed from the back of the Berwick scrum, thus negating the forwards’ good work. A further breakdown was picked up by the Wanderers backs and their second try was confidently run in by their tall and elusive running No 12. Converted from in front of the posts their lead extended to 14 points. Scrappy play continued with no further points being scored in the first half.
The second half saw some changes to the Berwick team, with Watson going off with a knock and Richard Ayre coming on, and Matty McCreath taking to the field for his first game of the season. Teaming up with brother Ben, still determinedly helping the Blacks by squeezing in yet a further game before he goes abroad, Matty’s strategic and decisive use of the boot gained Berwick considerable territory, and consistently pinned the Wanderers back in their own 22. It looked like the wind would tell for Berwick, but the Wanderers defence turned out to be immense for the whole of the second half.
Berwick made a break through when a high kick downfield from McCreath bounced awkwardly for the Wanderers backs and was deftly collected by Hackett after an excellent chase - a runaway try under the posts followed, and also converted by Hackett, the Blacks bounced back into the game. A spell of continued pressure by Berwick failed to breakdown the Wanderers defence further however, and despite consistent attacks, Berwick were unable to add to the score. From within their own 22, the Wanderers consistently proved that attack is the best form of defence. Their backs were very fast off the mark on numerous occasions, having fed off spilled Berwick ball, and proved too elusive for the Berwick tackling. Their stature and fitness proved too good for Berwick and a try run in down the length of the pitch took them back into a strong lead at 21 - 7.
A further prolonged attack on the Wanderer’s line by Berwick, saw two Wanderers’ forwards yellow carded within 2 minutes for persistently killing the ball and stopping the Berwick attack. Despite being reduced to 13 Berwick were still failed to penetrate the home side’s impressive and stoic defence. Eventually another break out from within their own 5m line saw the home side rampage upfield and win a penalty in front of the Berwick posts, after a desperate scramble by the Berwick backs to snuff out what looked like another certain 7 points. Surprisingly the home side only took the kick and extended their lead to 24 - 7 .
The same scenario was repeated again, an enduring attack on the Wanderer’s line, no success again, and this time the breakout produced the home sides best try, with their left wing going over in the corner. Amazingly well converted from a very narrow angle on the touch line, with an excellent kick into the extraordinary wind, it was clearly Murrayfield’s day, running out 31 points to 7, the home side deserved their win.
The Blacks wondered what more they could do, being repelled again and again in their attacks on the Wanderer’s line. Size and strength was the key factor in Murrayfield’s favour, and they were stronger in the loose scrap, their forwards ripping the ball from Berwick and making good use of that advantage at the vital last minute. The wind was difficult for both teams but the home sides’ handling was simply safer and more effective than Berwick’s.
The Blacks are at Scremerston this coming weekend against Royal High Corstorphine, with a 3.00pm KO.