WELCOME TO TYNEDALE PARK
This Saturday we welcome to Tynedale Park all the players, officials and supporters from Oundle RFC for the promotion play-off semi-final.
There’s always something special when we meet a club for the very first time and this weekend is no exception. We hope our guests enjoy their visit to Northumberland.

We also, of course, extend a very warm welcome to all of this week’s match officials.

To EVERYBODY - Enjoy your day!

INCREASED CAPACITY
After its success at the last two home matches we are again erecting a heated marquee on the new patio to the west of the clubhouse.
This increase in capacity will allow more people to enjoy in comfort the club’s hospitality throughout the day.

WHERE IS OUNDLE
Oundle is an attractive market town in North Northamptonshire, with lovely historic Georgian streetscapes and impressive limestone buildings.
The town, which has a population of just over 6000, lies between the town of Corby (9 miles away) and the city of Peterborough (12 miles away). Close by are the borders of three more counties, Rutland, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire.
The river Nene runs by the town on its east, (and unlike almost all British rivers it flows northwards), going on into the Wash.
The town is home to a famous public School, Oundle School, whose buildings are spread throughout the town.

TIM SWINSON
One link which Tynedale Rugby Club shares with Oundle concerns one of our club’s most famous ex-players, Tim Swinson, who is an Old Oundelian.
Tim played for Tynedale from 2006 to 2008 whilst at Newcastle University, and went on to play for Newcastle Falcons and the Scotland National team– where he won 38 caps.
In season 2007/08 Tim played 23 times for the Tynedale 1st.XV and was part of the squad which topped the table and won promotion to National One. Is that a good omen?

OUNDLE RFC
Oundle field Firsts, Seconds, Colts and Vets XV’s as well as a Women’s XV. The club has a reputation as one of the Midlands most successful Mini and Junior sections.
The first XV team currently play in National League 2 (East) – tier 4 of the English rugby union system, like Tynedale – following promotion from Regional 1 South East at the end of the 2024–25 season. They stormed that league winning all 22 of their matches and finished 16 points ahead of the runners-up.
Last season’s successes weren’t restricted to the league with victory in the Regional 1 Championship Final – defeating Huddersfield 52-17 in the end-of-season final at Twickenham.

Oundle’s 2ndXV play at level 8 in the National League Structure (same level as Barnard Castle, WB Rockcliff and Westoe). They won their league winning all 21 matches that they played.

The club was formed in 1976 and in the early years of the league system the club played in the lower levels of the East Midlands leagues. They won promotion from Midlands 4 East (South) in 2014 and this saw the start of the club's meteoric rise to the fifth tier of the English rugby union system, and now tier 4.

Ground
Oundle RFC has been based at Occupation Road since its inception in 1976, offering cricket, bowling and tennis as well as rugby union.
Facilities at the ground include a club-house (originally a tea-room transported from Thorney Wildlife Park) and three full size rugby pitches. Ground capacity around the main pitch is around 1,000 (all standing).

PROMOTIO/RELEGATION THIS SEASON
In a bid to prolong the interest in league matches and reduce the number of ‘dud’ matches the RFU re-introduced play-offs this season – as far as Tynedale are concerned it does seem to have worked.

The picture to date is:-
Already Decided
Sheffield promoted from National 2 North to National 1.
Leicester Lions, Sedgley Park and Clifton relegated from National 1 to National 2.
Hull and Scunthorpe relegated from National 2 North to Regional 1.
Heath and Huddersfield promoted from Regional 1 to National 2.

To be decided - Play-Offs
One of Tynedale, Oundle or Luctonians may be promoted into National 1.
Birmingham Moseley may be relegated into National 2.
Rossendale may be relegated into Regional 1.
Harrogate may be promoted into National 2.

(CLICK HERE to view promotion/relegation/play-off details)

TYNEDALE V OUNDLE
A quick look at this season’s league records for the two clubs suggest a very close contest is in the offing

WHAT IF IT’S A DRAW?
Statistically there seems nothing between the sides so here’s what happens if the scores are level at full time:-

5 minute break (teams remain on pitch)
10-minutes each-way extra time with 1 minute interval
If scores are still level then the team who has scored most tries is the winner.
If still no winner then the match goes into a “Place Kicking Competition” to decide the winner. Now this is when the fun really starts – CLICK HERE to view how this Competition works (Annex A at bottom)

OUNDLE RFC THIS SEASON
Oundle found their feet quickly in their first season in National Leagues. After losing 3 of their first 8 matches they then suffered only one defeat in the remaining 18 matches.

Oundle’s league results:-
Oundle 24 Havant 39
Bury St Edmunds 43 Oundle 47
Oundle 50 London Welsh 38
Guernsey 24 v Oundle 21
Oundle 31 Barnes 26
Henley 29 Oundle 33
Oundle 22 Dorking 19
Old Albanian 49 Oundle 28
Oundle 31 Canterbury 24
Oxford Harlequins 28 Oundle 69
Esher 11 Oundle 35
Oundle 41 Sevenoaks 36
Westcombe Park 24 Oundle 31
Oundle 29 Bury St Edmunds 29
London Welsh 24 Oundle 52
Oundle 35 Guernsey 17
Barnes 15 Oundle 21
Oundle 21 Henley 3
Dorking 21 Oundle 21
Oundle 45 Old Albanian 14
Canterbury 51 Oundle 33
Oundle 71 Oxford Harlequins 21
Oundle 43 Esher 38
Sevenoaks 28 Oundle 31
Oundle 36 Westcombe Park 33
Havant 29 Oundle 39

OUNDLE’s WEBSITE
https://oundlerfc.rfu.club/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Yates
AR1: Ben Simpson
AR2: Simon Williams
Referees Fourth Official: Paul Fincken

BALL BOYS
Tynedale U11’s and U15’s

WEATHER FORECAST
Possible light rain showers, gentle easterly breeze, 12 degrees

OTHER PLAY-OFF MATCHES THIS WEEKEND
Birmingham Moseley v Luctonians (3pm)
Rossendale v Harrogate (3pm)

SELECTED SQUADS
To be announced