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Reflections: 2023/24 Season
Anthony Dedicoat18 Jul - 19:56
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Shared By Mike Parkinson
Having earned back-to-back promotions we entered Regional One NE (Level 5) full of optimism, looking forward to the challenge, playing against the best opposition the Club has faced. Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan: played 22, won five. All our victories were earned prior to Christmas. We drew together as a group of players, fought for our mates, held it together, battled in some tight games but, so far as results are concerned, we had a terrible second half of the season.
An analysis of the data reveals: points against – 585. We leaked 26 points per game, whereas the league average was 23. So, defence was not really a problem; we were one penalty per game off the mean and being mid-table – our record in defence was better than Cleck and Dony, essentially the same as Alnwick, Blayden and Ilkley.
However, points scored: 291. We scored an average of 13 points per game. That was the worst scoring record in the league and meant we scored 10 points per game less than the mean – two tries or a seven-pointer and penalty less than the league average.
So, what were our overall conclusions? Firstly, in the set piece, we dominated the opposition scrum and matched the opposition line-out. (In my opinion, even at Level 5, the catch-and-drive was not refereed properly, the opposition were allowed to drag our moving maul down and the hours of practice on training nights were, therefore, rendered a waste of time.) Secondly, we matched the opposition in defence and at the breakdown, showing trademark courage and aggression. But, unfortunately, we failed consistently to penetrate defences and create enough scoring opportunities.
Why was that? Two games sum it up, both against Blayden, the first game played on the inaugural day of the season on 2 September 2023 and the other of the last day of the season on 6 April 2024.
Our pack against Blayden away on 2 September 2023 consisted of the same nucleus of 12 forwards who played all season, including against Blayden in our final game on 6 April 2024. However, reviewing the back-line on 2 September reveals, firstly, no Craig in the centre as he had retired at the end of the previous season. Number 9, Harry Woolaston (who played the season with a recurring leg injury, eventually to succumb to it by the end, being replaced by Ethan Grant); number 10, Liam Kay (recruited two-thirds into the season by a semi-pro RL outfit in Australia); number 11, Lucas (mad-dog, indestructible); Number 12, Harry McAllister (recruited by the same RL outfit as Liam); number 13, Mikey Hayward (broke his arm then, when he returned, received an offer he couldn’t refuse and re-joined Cleck); number 14, Linden Metcalfe (suffered what seemed to be an innocuous dead-leg, but which haemorrhaged and required surgery, causing him to miss the last two-thirds of the season); number 15, Charlie Harris (signed for Feathersone Rovers).
So, our back division suffered a considerable turnover of personnel. All I can say is thanks to Tim Spears for reluctantly coming out of retirement following some arm-twisting. Thanks also to Will Cooke for joining us and Max Copley for his patience. The injury turnover had one benefit: it gave us the opportunity to integrate some 17 and 18 year-old lads with outstanding potential, five of whom made their First XV debuts last season: Jamie Jex, Alex Wilson, Tom Papworth, Ethan Grant and Afie Abbot. Going somewhat un-noticed were also a number a colts who transitioned into our Second XV senior side, including: George Bailey, Toby Ludwig, Ben Mason, Joe Dowd, Eliot Stephens, Sonny Garahan, Prashant Veersamy and Webley.
Going back to those two games against Blayden (who finished a comfortable sixth in the league). In our first game, away on 2 September, we lost 29-24, and were really unlucky not to score in the last play of the game when we had been camped in the red-zone. We got a losing bonus point, but with a microgram of luck, would have come away with a five-point win. Our final game of the season on 6 April saw us go in front which we maintained for most of the game, only to concede a breakaway try at the death, finishing with a 21-22 deficit. How did we lose that game? Once more, we earned a losing bonus point instead of a five-point win. It may not have saved us from relegation, but it would have been a more appropriate reward for our effort over the course of the season.
Going back to Regional Two NE, gives us the opportunity to re-group. Not a bad thing, facing some old foes, mostly in Yorkshire. Remember lads, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, it’s the fight in the dog. And Ponte have plenty of doggedness. Can’t wait.
An analysis of the data reveals: points against – 585. We leaked 26 points per game, whereas the league average was 23. So, defence was not really a problem; we were one penalty per game off the mean and being mid-table – our record in defence was better than Cleck and Dony, essentially the same as Alnwick, Blayden and Ilkley.
However, points scored: 291. We scored an average of 13 points per game. That was the worst scoring record in the league and meant we scored 10 points per game less than the mean – two tries or a seven-pointer and penalty less than the league average.
So, what were our overall conclusions? Firstly, in the set piece, we dominated the opposition scrum and matched the opposition line-out. (In my opinion, even at Level 5, the catch-and-drive was not refereed properly, the opposition were allowed to drag our moving maul down and the hours of practice on training nights were, therefore, rendered a waste of time.) Secondly, we matched the opposition in defence and at the breakdown, showing trademark courage and aggression. But, unfortunately, we failed consistently to penetrate defences and create enough scoring opportunities.
Why was that? Two games sum it up, both against Blayden, the first game played on the inaugural day of the season on 2 September 2023 and the other of the last day of the season on 6 April 2024.
Our pack against Blayden away on 2 September 2023 consisted of the same nucleus of 12 forwards who played all season, including against Blayden in our final game on 6 April 2024. However, reviewing the back-line on 2 September reveals, firstly, no Craig in the centre as he had retired at the end of the previous season. Number 9, Harry Woolaston (who played the season with a recurring leg injury, eventually to succumb to it by the end, being replaced by Ethan Grant); number 10, Liam Kay (recruited two-thirds into the season by a semi-pro RL outfit in Australia); number 11, Lucas (mad-dog, indestructible); Number 12, Harry McAllister (recruited by the same RL outfit as Liam); number 13, Mikey Hayward (broke his arm then, when he returned, received an offer he couldn’t refuse and re-joined Cleck); number 14, Linden Metcalfe (suffered what seemed to be an innocuous dead-leg, but which haemorrhaged and required surgery, causing him to miss the last two-thirds of the season); number 15, Charlie Harris (signed for Feathersone Rovers).
So, our back division suffered a considerable turnover of personnel. All I can say is thanks to Tim Spears for reluctantly coming out of retirement following some arm-twisting. Thanks also to Will Cooke for joining us and Max Copley for his patience. The injury turnover had one benefit: it gave us the opportunity to integrate some 17 and 18 year-old lads with outstanding potential, five of whom made their First XV debuts last season: Jamie Jex, Alex Wilson, Tom Papworth, Ethan Grant and Afie Abbot. Going somewhat un-noticed were also a number a colts who transitioned into our Second XV senior side, including: George Bailey, Toby Ludwig, Ben Mason, Joe Dowd, Eliot Stephens, Sonny Garahan, Prashant Veersamy and Webley.
Going back to those two games against Blayden (who finished a comfortable sixth in the league). In our first game, away on 2 September, we lost 29-24, and were really unlucky not to score in the last play of the game when we had been camped in the red-zone. We got a losing bonus point, but with a microgram of luck, would have come away with a five-point win. Our final game of the season on 6 April saw us go in front which we maintained for most of the game, only to concede a breakaway try at the death, finishing with a 21-22 deficit. How did we lose that game? Once more, we earned a losing bonus point instead of a five-point win. It may not have saved us from relegation, but it would have been a more appropriate reward for our effort over the course of the season.
Going back to Regional Two NE, gives us the opportunity to re-group. Not a bad thing, facing some old foes, mostly in Yorkshire. Remember lads, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, it’s the fight in the dog. And Ponte have plenty of doggedness. Can’t wait.
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