GEOFF WATERFIELD The news about Geoff’s sudden and tragic death at just 43 years of age was just too late for inclusion in the Durham City programme. He was a Redcar lad, played rugby as a hooker mainly for Redcar but at the turn of the millennium joined us when we were hit with retirements and injuries and were sorely short of hookers. Recently he has been much in the news as the chairman of the multi-union works committee fighting tirelessly – and successfully - to save the steel industry on Teesside. Three weeks ago he picked up a knock playing rugby. He felt really unwell the following day and on Monday he went to hospital, where they took blood tests. Whilst there he suffered a massive heart attack, and although he was resuscitated he suffered a second attack which proved fatal and he died in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The blood tests showed Geoff had leukaemia.

WELCOME Moving on to something a little more upbeat, it is a great pleasure to welcome Morpeth back to Acklam Park after a gap of five years. We’ve actually met six times in league rugby, in 2006/07, 2003/04 and 2002/03; before that our only friendly fixture in almost 20 years, way back in 1995/96, was cancelled! Of those six games we won five – all three homes fixtures (53-12, 27-5 and 35-18) and the last two away games (18-12 and 48-12); we lost the other match by 7-8.

Last season wasn’t Morpeth’s best. They finished in 10th position with 52 points; Pontefract were relegated with 51 points. However their new campaign is off to a winning start; they beat Old Crossleyans 20-6 in a game which by all accounts lacked a little excitement if not a bit of tension – our visitors were only 15-6 ahead deep into the second period. Last week they entertained Percy Park, who beat Billingham 23-17 in their opening game, and won 28-13. Park took an early 3 point lead but in stoppage time before the break Morpeth scored a try/conversion to take a 17-7 lead, which was increased to 22-6 immediately after the restart. Two penalties stretched the lead to 28-6 before Park responded with seven points.

I remember what was probably Morpeth’s greatest ever season in 1974/75, when they were unbeaten for 18 games from mid-November until early April. In the John Player Cup they beat the Cumbrian and East Midlands champions, before meeting London Irish, one of the strongest teams in the country, boasting, among others, British Lions hooker Ken Kennedy. Morpeth won 19-3. They were then drawn at home to Bath, with Brian Garnett scoring a try as they won 13-9. Rosslyn Park, including Andy Ripley, were their semi-finals opponents; unfortunately Park won 28-6 and Morpeth’s Twickenham dream was over. I mention Brian Garnett because I take some satisfaction from the fact that I introduced him to rugby at the newly-formed Blyth Club. But his girl friend lived in Morpeth, so…

LEAGUE NEWS We got our season off to a winning start against Durham City, even without Captain and Vice Captain Rio and Bellers. Although we didn’t see a lot of the ball in the first half our defence was heroic. Having said that we were on the score board with eight points in as many minutes, courtesy of a penalty from Simon and a try by Craig, who started his charge just as Peter was picking up the ball from the ruck. City drew level before Jack added five more points as we headed towards half time. The second half was a different affair. We were rarely out of City’s half and added tries from Brad, Mike and Wrighty, with two conversions from Simon. We then met a fired-up Billingham, intent on achieving an immediate return to National 3 North. It was not our best day at the office. Our defence is usually phenomenal, and we actually had the lion’s share of possession, yet we conceded five tries and lost 33-13. We took the lead with a Simon penalty but it was to be a false dawn. Peter Wright and Lee Theakston crossed the line for us but we had no answer to Billingham’s backs.
It’s early days yet but a glance at the league table shows that the early front runners are Old Brods and Wheatley Hills, plus our visitors Morpeth, as the only clubs with a 100% record, whilst Gateshead, Team Northumbria and Old Crossleyans have yet to register a point.

CLUB NEWS The Wasps opened their season and the CANDY League with a daunting trip to Tynedale, from whence they returned with three points, having conceded just a few more, and then entertained Billingham and enjoyed a much closer game before going down 19-25. Both the ‘A’ XV and the Lions had games against West Hartlepool last week. The ‘A’s lost an entertaining match by 26-39 (see Jonno’s report) but the Lions scored an impressive 31-10 victory. It was a great turn out of new and old players, even Sillsy had a 20 min run out. Most importantly it was a great performance from the whole team and sets the standard for the rest of the season. Excellent tries were scored by Dasey, Kyle and the pick of the bunch by Houchen Snr. It was a great performance and a great start to the season.

Two weeks ago the Colts returned from Roundhegians with a satisfactory 22-15 win. Last Sunday they beat Leeds Corinthians 48-3; there are reports on both games in this issue. The Junior Colts lost 26-24 at Harrogate on Sunday. By the way in the last programme I mentioned, Alex ‘Scouse’ Chevasse-Hatfield, the Colt directly descended from Noel Godfrey Chevasse, a much decorated WW1 war hero. There was no space then for Noel’s inspirational story, but I am pleased to say it features today.

More sad news. Although it was great to see Paul Manders at the Durham City game, it wasn’t good to hear that his brother Gordon has the dreaded cancer. We wish him all the very best for a speedy recovery. And yet more sad news just received; Colin Elliott died on Tuesday after his battle with cancer.

JUNIORS Last week was a Boro/Billingham Week. Following the senior games on Saturday the U15s, U14s and U 13s all played Billingham on Sunday, and, combining their scores, we won 132-5! The U14s actually turned out two teams, whilst one set of lads were beating Billingham 48-5, the development squad beat West Hartlepool 51-0. The U16s, who have already earned their first silverware of the season by winning the Blaydon 7s, had an evening game at Billingham on Wednesday. It was their first full run-out this campaign and they played three 20/25 min periods; in a cracking game of rugby they lost 22-24.

The U14s continue where they left off last season and have a very strong squad. They have already beaten West Park Leeds, one of the strongest teams in Yorkshire, by 38-10, and have two of only three lads from North Yorkshire selected for the Yorkshire School of Rugby. They are fly half Joe Gaudie and winger Ben Stevenson; congratulations to both boys.

REFEREE’S CORNER We extend a warm welcome to Jonathan Hill, who has been to Acklam Park many times but has never taken the 1st team. Jonathan has been a referee for 15 years, and before taking up the whistle played in the front row at Old Otliensians. He is an agricultural consultant who knows members like Andrew Gloag. I offer him a warm welcome and hope he enjoys his time with us this afternoon.

THOUGHT FOR T0DAY Remember nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible.”

AND FINALLY ‘Vive La France.’ After their poor display against Japan in their opening RWC match, their coach, Marc Lievremont, said the game was ‘polluted with approximations’ (sic), going on to say ‘they‘re the ones playing, they are out on the pitch, it’s up to them to sort out the problems.’ Thanks a bundle coach.