From the touchline by Dave Campbell

BILLY PARKER AND LONI LONI ATTACK THE HEATH LINE

SCARBOROUGH 24 HEATH 3
By Dave Campbell

Scarborough continued their surge up Yorkshire One with a solid performance in beating visitors Heath RFC at Silver Royd.

The Seasiders fell 0-3 behind when Heath fullback Ezra Hinchliffe stroked over an early penalty. However the visitors’ advantage was short lived and Scarborough fly-half Tom Harrison evened things up with a 9th minute penalty. 

However it takes more than a bit of ‘grunt’ up front to win a rugby match and Scarborough took a deserved lead on the half hour when lock Aaron Wilson finished off a powerful drive and Harrison kicked the touchline conversion for a 10-3 lead.

The second half continued with a real arm-wrestle and Scarborough had a lot of defending to do. However The visitors never really have the edge to convert their pressure into points and tries from skipper Matty Jones and prop Nino Cutino, both converted by Harrison put the issue beyond doubt.

A FULL REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THURSDAY’S SCARBOROUGH NEWS

AARON WILSON SCORED SCARBOROUGH’S FIRST TRY

GRAEME JEFFREY (LEFT) RETURNS FOR TOMORROW’S VISIT OF HEATH photo: ANDY STANDING

Scarborough turned in perhaps their best performance of the season at Old Brodlieans last week, ending the Halifax-based outfit’s unbeaten home record and earning a bonus point with a four try 32-13 win. Fly-half Tom Harrison ran in a couple of tries with Flanker Devin Ibanez and fullback Tom Ratcliffe bagging one apiece; centre Graeme Hogg added a further twelve points with the boot. This was Scarborough’s fourth win at Brod’s Hipperholme ground in as many years.

TOM HARRISON BAGGED TWO TRIES IN LAST WEEK’S 32-13 WIN AT BRODS

The Seasiders are in action tomorrow at Silver Royd with Heath RFC their opponents. The west Yorkshiremen have had a poor start to the season and currently lie third bottom in Yorkshire One. However their fortunes took an upturn last week when they won their second game of the season 20-10 at Hullensians. Heath’s only other win was at bottom club Acklam (23-12) earlier in the season. However they have had more than a few tight games and have earned six losing bonus points so far this season. A losing bonus point is earned if a team loses by seven points or less.

Coach Lee Douglas has included all three of last week’s try scorers tomorrow as well as ‘semi-retired’ fullback Graeme Jeffrey. Isaac Faamau who has missed the last couple of games with injury is doubtful as is Graham Hogg. Heath won their only game at Silver Royd only weeks after the club moved from Newby scraping home 30-29 in February 2009. Games between the clubs have in general been close run affairs home and away except four seasons ago when the west Yorkshiremen were trounced 79-10 at Silver Royd.

ISAAC FAAMAU HAS BEEN MISSING FROM ACTION SINCE HIS INJURY AT KEIGHLEY

Elsewhere tomorrow the Vikings and Gulls (veterans XV) are on the road at Pocklington and Roundhegians respectively. The Danesmen entertain Pocklington at Silver Royd. All games kick off at 2.15pm. The Valkryies do not have a fixture this Sunday.

Scarborough bounced back from last week’s abandoned game at Silver Royd with the 32-13 defeat of high-flying Old Brodleians on the road this afternoon ending the west Yorkshiremen’s 100% home record.

A brace of tries from flyhalf Tom Harrison augmented by five points from the boot of centre Graham Hogg saw the Seasiders lead 15-5 at the break having played up the considerable Hipperholme slope

The visitors took tight control of the game and earned a bonus point with tries from flanker Devin Ibanez and fullback Tom Ratcliffe; Hogg added a further seven points with the boot. Brods added a late try to an earlier second half penalty but the result was never in doubt.

This was Scarborough’s fourth successive win in as many seasons at Hipperholme

Having injured my shoulder/collarbone in a fall last Monday, I just about managed to produce this blog. However, until the injury shows some improvement I will struggle to blog etc next week. I will therefore be missing from tomorrow’s Vikings game and probably Sunday’s Anniversary Celebration Touch Rugby.

REFEREE KEVIN WESTON IS TREATED BEFORE THE GAME WAS ABANDONED LAST WEEK

Last Saturday’s Yorkshire One game against visitors North Ribblesdale ended in disappointment when referee Kevin Weston sustained a calf injury five minutes into the second half and the game was abandoned. The afternoon had started so well for Scarborough who ran in a couple of early tries; Mikey Readman getting the touch on a pushover and Tom Ratcliffe crossing following a break by Graham Hogg who converted both for a 14-0 with only 9 minutes played. However it was all to no avail and the game will have to be replayed.

JORDAN WAKEHAM CLEAR A RUCK AGAINST NORTH RIBBLESDALE LAST WEEK

The Seasiders are on the road tomorrow with Halifax-based Old Brodleians their opponents. Brods currently sit 4^th in the league having lost only two games so far this season. Last week their game at Heath was abandoned when one of their players sustained a neck injury and couldn’t be moved. The game was moved to an adjacent pitch and was abandoned again because of dangerous debris on the pitch from Bonfire Night!

ISSAC FAAMAU, MATTY YOUNG AND PHIL STEWART FOLLOWING SCARBOROUGH’S 18-5 WIN AT BRODS LAST SEASON.

Brods and Scarborough have had an unusual run of results over the last few seasons with the west Yorkshiremen winning at Silver Royd and Scarborough successful at Brods over the same period of time. Last season the Seasiders turned in a gritty performance to win 18-5 in sometimes blizzard conditions at Brods’ Hipperholme ground.

TOM RATCLIFFE SCORED THE SECOND OF SCARBOROUGH’S TRIES LAST WEEK

picture Andy Standing

No8 Isaac Faamau who suffered a back injury at Keighley and missed last week’s North Ribblesdale game is still sidelined and young players Ben Martin, Drew Govier and Aaron Wilson continue in the pack alongside feisty back row Richard Scales; prop Alessandro Zavatti is also included in the squad.

And tomorrow sees both the Vikings and Danesmen at home entertaining Marist and Malton & Norton respectively. All three games kick-off at 2.15pm.

The club’s 90^th anniversary party will be held in the club tomorrow evening following by a day of tag rugby for all ages, abilities and gender followed by food and refreshment. Details on both events are on the SRUFC website.

VALKRYIES BEATEN BY YORK RI AT SILVER ROYD
VALKRYIES 12. YORK RI 17
By Dave Campbell
The VALKRYIES turned in what was probably their best performance of the season in their narrow defeat by high-flying York RI yesterday. The Scarborough women’s XV were under the cosh for much of a frenetic first 40 minutes in which they struggled to get out of their own half. After the break they took the game to the visitors who had built a 17-0 lead. A Laura Welburn TRY converted by Mel Halstead reduced the arrears to ten points. York RI defended well but conceded a late Danielle Rowley try. Halstead failed to convert and RI ran out narrow but deserved.

Danielle Rowley scores for the Valkryies (below)

More action from VALKRYIES-YORK RI LADIES

Referee Kevin Weston is treated by Scarborough Physio Breesha Curfey at Silver Royd

Scarborough’s Yorkshire One fixture with North Ribblesdale at Silver Royd today was abandoned after 47 minutes when referee Kevin Weston hobbled off with a leg injury and was unable to carry on. The Seasiders led 14-0 after only nine minutes with tries from lock Mikey Readman and fullback Tom Ratcliffe; centre Graham Hogg whose sublime break set up Ratcliffe’s effort, converted both from the touchline. The game will be replayed at a date to be announced.

ALEX ROWLEY (IN POSSESSION) IS DRAFTED INTO THE SQUAD TOMORROW

Scarborough’s 19-5 reverse at Keighley last Saturday was a big disappointment following such a spirited performance in coming from 0-10 down to beat Beverley 32-10 at Silver Royd the previous week. Having gone behind to an early try the visitors hit back almost immediately with a try from winger Joe Marshall to level things at 5-5. However that was the highlight of the game for skipper Matty Jones’ men and Keighley went on to record a well deserved victory.

MATTY YOUNG RETURNS AGAINST NORTH RIBBLESDALE  TOMORROW

Tomorrow’s opponents at Silver Royd North Ribblesdale have won only two games this campaign, thrashing fellow strugglers Yarnbury 34-5 at home on the second week of the season and last week fighting back from 12-0 down to pip second-bottom club Heath RFC 22-17 also at home. The Settle-based outfit have yet to win on the road losing heavily on several occasions including conceding a massive 78 points at Hullensians last month. They provided the only victory of the season for bottom club Acklam, losing 21-17 at the Middlesbrough-based outfit’s Ladgate lane.

Scarborough had quite a contingent of players missing at Keighley which in part may have contributed to their defeat; so the return of Tom Harrison, Richard Scales and Matty Young on Saturday is welcome news for Coach Lee Douglas. Matty Young Matty scored a couple of tries against Beverly so his finishing will be a bonus. Also drafted into the squad is winger Jack Anderson, young forward Will Leah who could make his home debut and Alex Rowley to cover for Jordi Wakeham who is carrying a knock.

TOM HARRISON

With the distance involved between Scarborough and Settle, games between the clubs have in general gone to home advantage; last season the men from Silver Royd lost 42-21 in a cracker at North Ribb’ but got ample revenge with a 56-3 win in the corresponding home game.

The Vikings went down 6-10 to Malton 2nds at Silver Royd last Saturday. Scarborough’s second string, led 6-5 for most of an exciting second half thanks to a couple of penalties from scrum half Alex Rowley. However a late try saw the visitors grab victory following a game played in cold, sleety conditions. The Vikings are on the road at BP Chemicals RFC tomorrow.

Scarborough’s youth setup has produced many fine young players of late. Last week six of the best were on duty at Keighley. ANDY STANDING was on hand to take the picture below:

(L-R) Aaron Wilson, Ben Martin, Joe Marshall, Jordan Wakeham. Drew Govier and Will Leah

The Valkryies exited the National Knockout Cup losing 29-10 at Morpeth last Sunday; however on the bright side Scarborough’s under-15 girls beat Bishop Auckland 17-15. The Valkryies are back in action against York RI Ladies at Silver Royd on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.

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THE VALKRYIES IN ACTION

Scarborough’s second string, the Vikings went down 6-10 to MALTON 2nds at Silver Royd yesterday. The home side led 6-5 thanks to a couple of penalties from scrum half Alex Rowley but a late Malton TRY saw them grab victory following an entertaining game played in cold, sleety conditions.

Wing Joe Marshall ( pictured below) scored Scarborough’s only TRY in a 19-5 defeat at Keighley yesterday. The Seasiders’ conceded an early try and the visitors replied with Marshall’s effort. The West Yorkshiremen ran in a further try and kicked three penalties for a well-deserved victory.

Picture by ANDY STANDING

MATTY YOUNG BAGGED A COUPLE OF TRIES LAST WEEK

Scarborough extended their unbeaten league run to four games last week as they fought back from an early 0-10 deficit to overpower visitors Beverley 32-10 and collect a bonus point with four tries and 32 unanswered points. A hugely spirited and committed performance from both sides provided top entertainment for a big turnout. Fullback Tom Ratcliffe withdrew with a late groin injury and Graeme Jeffrey who had been absent on Paternity leave stepped in and turned in a dynamic performance running from deep. Outstanding performances from No8 Isaac Faamau, lock Mikey Readman, centre Graeme Hogg, Gavin Wakeham and Devin Ibanez turned the game for the Seasiders. Tries from wing Matty Young (2), Ibanez and an interception try from skipper Matty Jones plus twelve points from the boot of Hogg rounded off a convincing 32-10 win.

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SKIPPER TOM RATCLIFFE SCORES AGAINST POCKLINGTON LAST WEEK

PHIL WATSON & TOM RATCLIFFE RETURN TOMORROW

The Seasiders travel to Keighley tomorrow looking to extend their unbeaten run with a victory over the west Yorkshiremen who were relegated from Yorkshire One two seasons ago. They were promoted again at the end of last season and have lost only two of their league outings so far this campaign; they’re on 27 points in joint third with Scarborough and York. Last week they squeezed past struggling Heath RFC 13-12 on the road.

JORDI WAKEHAM WAS IN FINE FORM AGAINST BEVERLEY

Scarborough last met Keighley in 2014 when they were far too strong for the visitors winning 42-15 at Silver Royd; they had earlier won 17-10 on the road at Keighley. For tomorrow’s clash, second row Phil Watson who was unavailable last week returns to action whilst flyhalf Tom Harrison misses the game on vacation. Joe Lenton and Ben Martin join the squad as does Tom Ratcliffe. Wing Tom Burton dislocated his shoulder last week and will be out for a while. Tom has impressed since making his first team debut this season and I hope he is soon on the road to recovery. Also in action tomorrow are the Vikings at home to Malton & Norton at Silver Royd and the Danesmen who travel to Hull University.  DON’T FORGET ALL GAMES KICK OFF AT 2.15pm TOMORROW.

THE VALKRYIES IN ACTION AGAINST MORPETH

Last Sunday the Valkryies entertained visitors Morpeth Ladies at Silver Royd and ran in ten tries in the 62-5 win. Claire Wilkinson opened the scoring and went on to run in a hat-trick of tries. Further tries came from fullback Mel Halstead (2), Danielle Rowley, Jess Glanvill (2) and Aisling Robinson who also grabbed a couple. Halstead added six conversions for a personal tally of 22 points.

PICTURES BY ANDY STANDING AND DAVE CAMPBELL