Tynedale Raiders 14 Heriots Blues 2nd XV 7

Tynedale Park, Corbridge
11th November 2023

Tynedale Raiders 14
Heriot's Blues 2XV 7

'DISTRIBUTE CHEARFULLIE'

Tynedale Park observed a moment of silence on Remembrance Day, honouring the sacrifices of so many who have made days like this possible in our lifetime. The rugby which followed did not disappoint.

Raiders started brightly, moving the ball well to create early opportunities on each wing, both expertly snuffed out by resolute Heriot's defending.

Wearing their grey change kit for the day, to allow Heriot's to sport their own blue & white hoops, Tyne brought colour to proceedings on 10 minutes with some powerful forwards' play, finished off by no. 8 Charlie Richards and converted by fly half Cam Grant. The try was hard-earned and well-deserved after sustained pressure from the home team.

The score remained 7-0 throughout a pulsating first half which saw both teams' defences tested to the max. The play ebbed and flowed in a fascinating display of how rugby should be played, epitomised in the forwards by a terrific contest between Raiders' young tighthead prop Thomas Donnelly and the Heriot's loosehead; and in the backs by some intricate spreading of the ball through hands, and intelligent tactical kicking from both sides.

Half-time 7-0

Both teams came out strongly from the break but it was the Dunediners who made the first impact, scoring well under the posts after just five minutes to level things up at 7-7. The performances of both teams continued to delight the spectators who were served up a treat. Tynedale's Grant orchestrated move after move after move as the Northumberland outfit tried everything to break through the stony Scots' wall set before them. Similarly, the Heriot's attack met with the immovable force of Raiders' defence with lock Callum Burke setting the example in the tackle. Midway through the half, winger Alex Dryden found a gap with a clever cut inside, before reverse-offloading intuitively to outside centre Joe Tully who ran a great line to collect and run the ball home. Grant dutifully added the extras.

The game remained a nail-biter to the very end, with two well-matched teams playing attractive high-quality rugby in the right spirit from start to finish. The match ended 14-7 with members & alickadoos remarking long afterwards on the best 2's game they'd seen since who knows when.

Heriot's are guided by George Heriot's motto to 'Distribute Chearfullie', with the aim of determinedly 'distributing sincere friendship and promoting excellent standards of play'. In Tynedale’s opinion, they're doing a fine job.

Full-time 14-7

Tries:
C. Richards
J. Tully

Conversions:
Grant (2)

Team:
15) E. Forlow, 14) B. Riley, 13) J. Tully, 12) L. Turnbull, 11) A. Dryden, 10) C. Grant, 9) N. Sykes
1) E. Craney, 2) H. Hayes, 3) T. Donnelly, 4) R. Dunn, 5) J. Hiles, 6) J. Johnston, 7) J. Brown (C), 8) C. Richards

Replacements:
16) C. Burke, 17) W. Jobling 18) A Todhunter

Ian Hiles