Gosforth Pacemakers “walking” into a draw!
Ashington Pit Ponies v Gosforth Pacemakers
Gosforth Pacemakers played their first walking rugby match on Saturday 26th September at the Rec, Ashington, as a pre-cursor to the Senior Counties 2 league game.
With the Pit Ponies sporting their new shirts, Gosforth ran out in their traditional green and white hoops and shorts of many colours. The Gosforth magnificent 7 was supplemented by a Pit Pony – Tom Moore to make up an 8 a-side game. George Wright – nursing a shoulder injury from the previous weeks Ashington training session – agreed to be Ref and sternly read out the rules to both teams. “Double touch – defence move back one yard – deliberate knock on – move back two yards.” Proper measurements – no one questioned the modern metric system.
The Pacemakers kicked off in style with 3 quick tries spreading the ball wide through some old pros – making the ball do the work. However, the energetic Benny from the Pit Ponies got them working hard to pull it back to 3 : 2 by the end of quarter 2. Their gameplan – route one. It was decided that due to the heat and the ages, it would be more appropriate to have hydration breaks and play 4 quarters of 15 minutes. Unfortunately, George concentrated on his whistle rather than the clock and each quarter stretched to 18 or 20 minutes as everyone was enjoying the play.
By the end of the fourth quarter the score was 6:5 or was it 5:6 – did it matter. It was agreed – an honourable draw – 5 tries all. The game played with great spirt – great craic – great skill – with those old handling skills being brought back to life. Like riding a bike – you never forget.
At the final whistle – Pete O’Brian presented the captains with a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate the great occasion and the start of a new tradition only for it to be offered to the players – after being shaken well – in true Formula 1 style!
Walking rugby is a great way to re connect with past team mates and friends and with more and more clubs now offering this as an alternative form of rugby why not pop down to your nearest club.
Walking Rugby can be found at:
Ashington RFC on a Wednesday, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Blyth RFC on a Thursday at 7pm
Gosforth RFC on a Thursday, 6.15pm to 7.15pm
Wallsend RFC on Monday, now at TyneMet College Sports Hall (in the Summer on the pitches at Wallsend), 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC on a Friday, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
