Rugby Club
Rugby Floodlit Final
The floodlit final between Cuthbert’s A and Bede A is just a week away. Team Durham take a look at the two teams’ performances over the past season.
Cuthbert’s A, who beat Chad’s A in the semi-finals of the floodlit, are currently second in the premiership league tables. They trail just three points behind Collingwood, and have lost just one game all season, in a very close match against Grey A. Grey won by a single point. Interestingly, Grey A were knocked out of the cup in the first round, but went on to make it to the finals of the plate. They play Aidan’s A on Tuesday night.
In their other games, Cuthbert’s have always been the victors. In the first two games of the season, they beat Van Mildert A, 29-0 and league table leaders, Collingwood A, 26-14. After their loss against Grey, they came back to beat Hatfield A 48-8, Castle A 81-5, and their B team counterparts, 38-7.
On the other hand, Bede A lie 9th in the league table, having only won one game out of five. After starting the season well, by beating Josephine Butler A, 13-11, Bede A seemed unable to keep up momentum. They have subsequently lost to Grey A, Hatfield A, Collingwood A and John’s A.
So, it seems that one team stands out more than the other. However, Bede A have played tremendously well in their floodlit games, potentially due to the allowance of university players. Who will be crowned cup winners? Head down to Durham City Rugby Club on Monday 15th March to find out!
STOP PRESS (March 2009)
Treble secured and one defeat all season
Last season the A team won an unprecidented treble: College Premiership, Floodlit Cup and North East Universities Saturday League. They were unbeaten against all other college sides, and beat Durham Development, Newcastle freshers and Northumbria freshers in the process. They suffered only one defeat all season in the final of the Northern Cup.
The B team secured their status in the Premiership after a debut season that saw them beat 5 teams to end on 15 points and well clear of the relegation area. Highlights included victories over Hatfield A and Johns A.
We hope to launch another winning campaign this season as both our teams compete alongside each other for the college cups. Many good players remain in the squad but new members are needed as we strive for the long-awaited ‘perfect’ season.
Anthony von Christierson
Club Captain 2007-8
Review of 2006/2007 Season
The 2006/7 season was an outstanding one for Cuth’s A team, but unfortunately the team were left with nothing to show for their tremendous efforts and performances throughout the year, losing both the Floodlit cup and the Mens Premiership title in one match – a double header decider against a strong Hild Bede side on a windy night in March. However the result of this match did not in anyway reflect the season as a whole.
The Club was blessed in October with a large and very talented influx of freshers, all of whom played a massive part in the matches throughout the season. Indeed on some occasions the back-line was predominantly freshers, which bodes well for the future.
Under the leadership of George Johnson, Cuth’s A won eight out of their nine matches, the loss being to winners Hild Bede and amassed a total of 272 points, conceding only 79. One of the highlights of the season had to be the 11-6 victory over Collingwood in a thrilling but tense double-header match, played under the lights at Durham City RFC in front of an extremely partisan Collingwood crowd. However, the Cuth’s boys came through late on in the game thanks to a try from winger Christian Holbrook. Other good performances came against an aggressive Hatfield team who were beaten 22-5 and also against Chad’s, the most improved college this year (33-6). The usual bad weather in Durham prevented Cuth’s from playing Hild Bede in the league and after 3 postponements, we were forced to make the floodlit final, which both sides had progressed to. The league also was to be decided on the game. It couldn’t have been hyped up more, two sides, both unbeaten in the league and in the floodlit going head to head in the biggest match that College rugby had ever witnessed.
The final was billed even more special as it was a repeat of last year’s final, in which Cuth’s were robbed in the last second by a drop goal by Hild Bede. This year’s final unfortunately would not be as close. Hild Bede proved too powerful for Cuth’s who would admit themselves that they did not play as well as they had shown throughout the year. Cuth’s paid the price for conceding too many penalties and were duly punished by the boot of the Bede fly-half, who held his nerve to kick 15 individual points. Cuth’s had their chances but were unable to capitalise on them, going down 22-7 in what would be for the 3rd years such as Mills, Franklin, Dickinson, Dunn and Downey their last ever game for Cuth’s after 3 years of endeavour.
The team also finished a very respectable 3rd in the Northern Saturday league, playing very competitive teams from the North East, including university sides at Newcastle and beating them. Highlights from this were the two victories away to Team Northumbria freshers, one of them being with a considerably depleted side, which shows the strength and depth of talent players that we have here at Cuth’s. Looking to next season, here’s hoping for revenge on Hild Bede by winning back both the Mens Premiership and the floodlit cup!
Rick Madden
Club Captain 2006-7