In a week when we have discovered it takes most of the day to sit in a virtual queue to be charged double than you expected but don’t worry its game time as the 2024-25 season starts now. It’s another journey in the competitive National 2 for the Green and white after the last game heroics of last season which seem a world away so what will it take this time? Following a mixed pre-season it’s been a slow build but what do the sunshine band with KC missing have in store, lots of opportunities. As with all things it’s all about the balance and blend, that mix of eager young talent and controlled experience, the flash of a chance with the clarity of how to maximize the opportunity, the personal skill set balanced with graft and support as part of the team and if you get that right then it all looks good. It’s a combination of various ingredients to make a satisfying experience, so I’m sure the season will be stirring but not shaken, clear not cloudy and reaches the parts that watching other sport doesn’t even touch.
The summer has been another packed one for the Greenwood road based club with various event successes with Rugby fest and the centenary ball being high points plus Billingham rugby club developing into multi functional venue. It was also marked by the passing of Bob Bell and Paul Beadling, like most I have benefitted by enjoying time with both as part of the Billingham rugby club family, sharing stories, bus trips and very funny times so I will miss them both.
The day starts less of a Tequila sunrise and more of a cloudy pint as a low mist envelops Billingham and I wonder if I can flag down a hansom cab on Marsh House Avenue. Greetings from club legends on the way in as the Ticketmaster, Alan and support keep the queues moving and distribute the season tickets. It’s a good buzz about the place as I pass the taped off DJ area as Duane updates from a packed balcony and the 2nd team are already off against restricted numbers. Up to the mount as the warm ups tail off and conditions are looking good, brightening up and according to the flags a very light breeze. It’s Harrogate up first as they return to National league 2 having been there after promotion in the Covid hit season on some Duckworth/Lewis point’s method after we had beaten them home and away, not that anyone hold on to those memories (let it go!). Gate trot out first in amber, red and black hoops followed by the Green and white, new season strip is more of a green version than the white with a mint layer last season. Officials make their way out in a fuchsia pink with black shorts, they obviously thought the fog would linger and they would need to be seen. So here we go with the first installment of bad spilling, poor grandma, hidden words and general randomness.
Gate kick off towards the club house as we watch from the top end, a high kick to the left hand corner with AJ collecting and Gate over eager provide the first infringement. Ryan F testes the conditions with a kick to touch back over the halfway line. The first line out with Ed Graham finding Dan Burns off the top, a quick test up the middle and quick ball is whisked out to Jonny Horner at pace. Into the 22 for the first time as the cover uses the line and the ball goes out, forward pass at some point so Gate get a chance to clear. Front catch from gate as the runners test the defensive line but opt to put a high kick in, collected by Peter Evans who dances into traffic. Billingham retain and move across the pitch, it’s a couple of quick penalties as Gate don’t release or roll away and kicks are exchanged as touch in not found. Its scrum time and after a reset Billingham set Luke Wilson up the middle and despite a strong counter ruck they retrain the ball and Peter E opts for field position popping a ball into touch in the 22. At the line out Gate employ a delayed hoist and then engage when they come down, Billingham standoff initially but then get involved but its advantage Gate, so they do the same again further up the pitch. The Gate runners are released this time with each wing being tested but Adam Brown gets a tackle in that forces the knock on deep in the Billingham half. Billingham scrum is pressured by a Gate nudge, it’s quickly out and Gate infringe again. It is early but being brought back for penalties rather than continue advantage seems to be quite a lottery for both teams. Kick to touch is good, Billingham take cleanly off the top and the ball is moved from Elliott to Ryan who posts Luke through a gap and then he wriggles out a tackle. Joe Ross on the shoulder and into space, he commits the full back and it’s an inside pass to Louie Groak takes it the rest of the way. Under the posts the conversation is stroked over by Ryan as the home team trouble the scoreboard for the first time – 7 – 0.
Gate kick off with a low skimmer, think dambusters which Billingham are adjudged to have touched on its way out so its line out Gate which they collect cleanly and set off across the pitch. It’s a high tackle in the middle of the pitch and Burns is show a yellow as Billingham go down to 14. Gate go to the corner and it’s a catch and drive from the line out, a little bit of a kerfuffle as the arm going up giving Billingham a relieving penalty which is then reversed and a quick tap from Gate sees James Watson react quickly but not retreated, another yellow is shown as Billingham go down to 13. Its full graft from Billingham as Gate try several times to even the score, going very close from my vantage point but a combination knock on’s, loose passes and greedy hands eat up the time. A long Gate line out ends up in Billingham hands and they look to move it about with Adam popping up as a winger and it’s a high tackle from Gate that signals the return of Burns back into the fray. With Billingham back to full strength Gate show their wheels with break down one side then a quick recycle with a kick pass to the other wing, Billingham get there first so drop out from under the sticks, kick exchanges and Gate get into the corner and the forwards hunt those first points but its dropped and booted up the pitch. Gate bobbled in securing and it’s compounded by an infringement whilst tiding up, Billingham kick to the corner. Clean line out ball and the first drive goes down, AJ twists and turns but Gant hold firm so it’s out as Ben Walton come into the line crashing over the line with two gate forwards, the try is given. Cue conjecture on the mount especially from the gate coaches on the next bench. Nice position for Ryan to add the extras for 14 – 0, the work during the 13 man period cannot be underestimated.
Gate pop a high one and one bounce the out with no hands in sight, line out is Burns again and then switched wide. A nudge through and chase see’s Louie and Jonny close in on the ball but Gate cover well and Billingham are trapped not rolling away allowing Gate to clear onto the stand roof. Gate line out goes long Burns is on the break and Ryan Kirkbride takes off as Gate have to commit numbers to drag him down. It’s along the line but one loose pass and suddenly Gate switch into gear, it’s a quick counter and it’s a numbers game, they have the hands as they keep the ball alive and run in from their own half despite the Billingham chase. Unconverted it banishes the doughnut and the teams go in for half time 14 – 5.
Half time and despite the mount being bathed in sunshine the usual suspect disperse in search of refreshment and vantage points for the second half. I also opt for the bottom stand side corner wedged between players’ families and the chairman group, quite a cosmopolitan mix than I am used to (sorry Wagga). Will Gate take confidence from the late score, will Billingham look to change things in the second, will I turn up for a gym session next week, does the perfect espresso martini exist, here we go, second half awaits.
Green and Whites are out first and Ryan kicks off high towards the club house, Gate collect and Billingham transgress at the breakdown so Gate send the ball over the dugouts. Gate cleanly collect the line out and set away the phases, ball retention good as they probe right across the park. It’s a lose breakdown and its Billingham’s turn, with AJ getting well over the gain line as the clean out is working hard against the Gate counter. Billingham go close as Gate look to seal off the ball coming back which allows them to steal the ball on their own line, it’s all at close quarters as Billingham look to steal back but the man in the middle does not agree with arm aloft. Gate kick to touch but loose the ball at the line out, as the Billingham forwards look to make the gain Ed G stresses the defensive line then quick ball out to the far side sees, Louie ask questions then pass to Jonny who finishes out wide. Close but wide conversion from Ryan as the second half starts with a home side score for 19 – 5.
Gate restart and “breadbasket” Burns collects, a few phases later Billingham are slow to the breakdown and Gate counter ruck to gain control, and the ball is shifted along the line then nudged forward for a chase. Gate compete in the pace stakes but its finger tips to collect so bobble out. Gate obviously have spotted something as they are definitely going wide to stretch the Billingham defence and a favorable bounce may see them in, unfortunately the next one evades everyone and its back for an earlier penalty. This gives Billingham opportunity to kick to the corner and from the line out it’s a catch and drive with the props Adam and James strong carries. As Billingham turn the screw a gate forward is a little eager and gets a yellow so Billingham set up again from the line out. It’s knocking on the line as Gate look to slow down the ball and defend the round the corner, but it’s a stretch through (you could say burrow) the ruck to ground the ball from AJ in a trademark move. Ryan adds the extra’s from the stand side as Billingham gain the four try point at 26 – 5.
Gate kick off following a knock on by the ref as a spare ball come on, Both teams exchange nudges through with Gate wheels getting frustrated with another just out of reach kick so throws the ball away which the man in the middle is having none of. There a lot of kicking over the top or through for runners from both teams but the cover is good. Gaps do appear Gate open Billingham up with a great line from 13 but the pass goes to a Billingham player. There’s also a charge down leading to a bouncing ball which both teams attempt to secure before Adam hacks cleanly into touch. Billingham make the changes with debuts coming on which is always good to see although there is some discussion about the timing. Billingham continue to graft hard without the ball and then send the kicks through as Joe Ross forces the ball to be knocked over the dead ball line. From the scrum Gate force Billingham back over their attacking phases and a nudge through goes dead, Gate set up from a solid scrum moving the ball along the line plus a couple of line outs move them up the field. Like the first half it switches so fast as Gate go from defence to an attacking line out from which they get close then grab the try. Converted Gate move into double digits at 26 -12, another one may make it interesting.
Billingham kick off towards the stand side, Ben Walton gets a touch backwards but Gate tidy up and then knock on so we come back for the first? Two scrums in quick succession as Gate control the first but then knock on, Billingham look steady and AJ picks at the back, a few passes and Luke wangs a long one out to Joe Ross. As he’s motoring, so its round the first defence then passes over the head of the full back as Jonny H in support runs in for a brace. Ryan coverts from his favorite angle and that’s full time at 33 – 12. An absolute cracker of a try to finish the game in the stand side corner and sends the balcony to the bar happy.
A very good start for the home team in the sun, I’m sure they will think they were a bit rusty but there were a load of pluses across the squad and all points secured. Some very good combinations developing and the debuts indicate depth coming through which in this league is pivotal. It will be interesting to visit Harrogate at a later date to see how they have evolved, there was quite a bit of nearly to consolidate on which I expect they will point to but I would say that there was a lot of that for the home team too. There is never a bad time to come and support your local club but looking at the senior squads, Colts, junior players and fitness groups throughout the club there’s something for everyone, be part of it.
No time this report for I only know wonderwall, pukka, still on holiday?, WNC, year to run on contract before any clubs can show an interest, by mutual agreement, another 90+ minutes of blandness, grey hoodie left on AGP, have you seen the new club house?, in 1 and clamping in operation.
Coughlin's law: never show surprise, never lose your cool.
​​​​​​​​Douglas Coughlin.

An innocent bystander.