On Saturday we were on the road playing our sixth game of the new season against Billingham Rugby Club. They are a team from Stockton on Tees who gained promotion into National Two North in 2023 so this was the first time that we had played them. They have had a difficult start to their campaign with only two wins out of five but we were taking nothing for granted and knew that we would have to put in another good performance if we were going to maintain the unbeaten run. They play on an artificial 4G pitch ideal for open fast rugby. It was a fine sunny day but there was a very strong wind blowing down the length of the field. The home team won the toss and elected to play against the wind so we knew that we would have to get points on the board in the first half. Initial exchanges were even with the home team electing to run the ball every time they had posession but the Tigers defences were excellent driving them back and giving no ground. We looked to play in their twenty two and a patient build up of phases near their line saw scrum half Mason Winterburn snipe over for our first score. Fly Half Oli Glasse added the conversion and we were 7-0 up after thirteen minutes. Two minutes later a lovely passage of play where the ball went through several pairs of hands saw centre Joe Bedlow break through and feed the ball to Mason who went over from 30 metres for his second. Oli again added the conversion and we extended our lead to 14-0 with most of the half to go. We were now playing with pace and tempo looking to move the ball at every opportunity and a another lovely play saw the ball moved to winger Tom Hesketh who went over in the left hand corner for our third converted try with fifteen minutes to go of the half. Going into the last ten minutes a penalty ten metres out from their line saw the forwards tap and go which was finished off by tight head prop Danny Rylance to give us our fourth and bonus point try. We went into half time with a commanding 28-0 lead which Billingham had little answer to.
We knew that playing against the strong wind wind in the second half would be a stern test. We knew that we had to be disciplined in defence and not give penalties away that would give the home team territory and posession. We knew that we would have to carry hard, win the collisions, look after the ball and take our chances. We had the ideal start just one minute into the half when a line break on the left by winger Sampson Shute was finished off by Mason who went under the posts for his hat trick. Oli added the conversion and we were now 35-0 up with all of the half to go. However to their credit Billingham hit back five minutes later with a try for replacement Joe Syson who drove over from a tap and go penalty. We had a little period of time where we gave away a number of penalties and we had two yellow cards which was disappointing. However our defence sets were excellent and a dropped ball by the hosts near our twenty two saw centre Harry Lewis break out, feed the ball to full back Nathan Pope who passed the ball to winger Tom Hesketh who went over for our sixth converted try and extend the lead to 42-5 after forty seven minutes. A line out in their half saw the ball moved along the back line and fed to hooker Jack Ellam who raced in from 35 metres for our seventh try of the afternoon. Billingham had little answer to this onslaught of running rugby. They were awarded a penalty try after a Tigers infringement which cost us a yellow card but the day belonged to the visitors who went on to score another four tries. The first from loose head prop John Blanchard who went over from 40 metres out after excellent support play, then scrum half Mason( his fourth ) after hard carries and a build up of phases through the middle, the next for fly half Oli Glasse who went over in the top left hand corner and finally a fifty metre run in for flying winger Tom Hesketh ( his hat trick ) who left everyone standing. The game ended 75-12 to the Tigers, the bonus point secured, the unbeaten run continued and a display of breathtaking running rugby. Man of the match was given to young scrum half Mason Winterburn for his four tries and overall excellent performance but credit must go to the whole squad who one the day produced a wonderful display of total rugby. Our nearest rivals Hull Ionians lost against Chester which now puts us at the top of the league on our own, four points ahead Darlington Mowden Park and Hull Ionians but we will not become complacent and prepare well for the next challenge which is next Saturday at home to Heath Rugby Club. They are another team which we have never played before so we look forward to welcoming them to Park Lane. Hopefully we can keep the run going so please come down and get behind this special Tigers team.
Cheers, Steve Hazz.
Photography by JessGrace.
