“HALF-HEARTED” ALNWICK UNDER FIRE FROM DISAPPOINTED LEADBITTER

The old foes on their turf was never going to be easy given Alnwick’s chaotic build up to this fixture.
And just when Coach Leadbitter thought it couldn’t get any worse with bad weather and floodlight repairs killing off the Ponteland match and then last week’s mid-week training session, it got much, much worse. His e-mail inbox started to fill up on Sunday morning as he drove down the A1 with last minute messages from players saying they had fallen ill. Five pulled out at short notice.
It left the blues arriving in Morpeth with just 12 lads fit to pull on their boots, the likes of Reece Gaines reduced to watching on crutches from the touchline. He faces a scan at the RVI on Monday and possible keyhole surgery - not to remove the mobile phone from his hand - but on his knee.
And with two others electing to train with another rugby team this weekend it looked bleak even before the referee blew for kick off. Inevitably of course the home side claimed they also were not fielding their best side - they always say that.
But this time a selection of their squad was up in Edinburgh for an alleged Northumbrian Barbarians team, made up of a mixed bag of Morpeth and Northern players - where was the call to invite some of our boys to that one wonders? They had telephoned Alnwick to say they were heading north of the border, but then added they didn’t need any more players to make up their squad. Some might think that a bit cheeky.
But back to matters on the pitch and it started well with Harry Sutherland making a welcome return, his pace creating early inroads into enemy territory. But Morpeth, playing with the breeze at their backs and down the slight hill, took the lead after just four minutes, despite some decent tackling from our boys.
The play was then restricted to 10 metres either side of the half-way line for a lengthy spell that gave the visitors a bit of heart.
The impressive Drew Thompson catching the ball well at a line out was a highlight, with the ever willing Josh Lowes frightening the life out of the home side with a 30 metre dash into Morpeth territory.
But Alnwick old boy Leon Smith was a constant thorn in the Blues side and soon the writing was on the wall. The home team played with more pace and passion.
Coach Leadbitter cutting a forlorn figure on the sidelines.
All the action was in the Alnwick half and eventually that pressure took its toll, with Morpeth being handed a four man overlap to pop over the try line for their second score, well converted for a 12 point lead. They scored another before half-time, with the Alnwick coaches using the break to try to instill some of the fighting spirit we had seen at Percy Park - without much success.
The second half did start with signs that Alnwick might be up for the fight, but they couldn’t penetrate the Morpeth back line and any realistic hope of a comeback evaporated with Harry Sutherland leaving the field with an elbow injury.
Soon Morpeth were being allowed to run from half-way almost unchallenged - until one of their boys playing for Alnwick made a last ditch tackle close to the try line. After another five minutes they were another five points further ahead, their desire for victory clearly stronger than those in blue.
Two more second half scores took them 39 points up before the referee called time on the affair, Morpeth parents pleased as punch as ever.
Coach Leadbitter was left frustrated and not just by his failure to find a joiner to complete the new kitchen in his family home - where the long suffering Mrs Leadbitter has had to feed the family for weeks with cooking facilities that Sub Saharan nomad tribesmen would kick off about.
“The boys didn’t play with the passion or skill they need to,” he said.
“It was a half-hearted effort. They need to decide that they want to win. At no point did we take the game to Morpeth, we just let them play the game they wanted to.”
“There was a lack of enthusiasm, a failure to engage with what the coaches were telling them at half-time. It was very disappointing.”
Asked if there was anything positive to be taken from the day’s action he replied: “Drew Thompson threw himself into his tackles and put himself around the pitch, he was man of the match. “Josh Lowes was in pain and came off briefly, but showed what we want to see by being determined to get back on as soon as possible. He played on and it must have hurt. I respect that.”
A few weeks ago Morpeth put 51 points past Alnwick, so 39 without reply was an improvement of sorts, but there’s much to sort out and not that many weeks left in the season.
The boys can expect a torrid time in training on Wednesday night and again at Alnwick next Sunday.