Richmondshire 0 v Barnard Castle 47
Castle warm-up well at Richmond
With the start of the season looming Barney had arranged a pre-season warm-up match with neighbours Richmond to help blow away the cobwebs and try some new combinations ahead of the new season.
Both sides arrived with big squads of players and were keen to ensure that everyone had a good run-out in a game of four quarters rather than two halves.
The close season has seen Barney lose one or two experienced players, but they are also welcoming new faces and have some familiar faces returning home from University, so this was a great opportunity for players to impress Coach Junior and ink themselves onto the team-sheet for the first league game of the season, away to newly-promoted North Shields on 7th September.
Having lost a bit of beef from the pack Castle are looking to play a fast-paced , mobile game this season and they signalled their intent from the start with skipper and stand-off Sam Errington spinning the ball wide, giving wingers Sam Clarke and Jack Rowlandson plenty of opportunity to run with the ball. New signing from Blaydon, Marty Lonsdale, was prominent from the start and was unlucky not to power over the whitewash early after impressive early yards were made with a couple of strong runs.
After 10 minutes the scoreboard began to tick over in Castle’s favour with a try by Sam King and a neat conversion by Sam Errington and they continued to score regularly throughout as they moved the ball well and outpaced their bulkier opponents.
Rees Doyle capped an impressive display with several tries and was joined on the score-sheet by Man of the Match Lucas Summers, Adam Kicks, Alex Thomas and Alistair Burn, who caught the eye with his pace and power.
Barney incurred the displeasure of the referee for back-chat and at one point were reduced to 13 players, but it was to their credit that they managed to prevent their determined opponents from scoring.
This was a good workout for both sides with Castle experimenting and Richmond refusing to be intimidated by their Division 1 opponents. The game was played in good spirit and will have given both coaching teams food for thought as they ponder their line-ups for the new season.
Barney have another warm-up game at Darlington on Tuesday 27th August.
With training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings the club welcomes any potential new players looking to join a friendly, welcoming and competitive club. The club fields two senior men’s teams each week and an occasional third team, veteran’s team and has thriving juniors, ladies and girls sections.

Nick Raper