Match Preview – Blaydon v Wharfedale

Another summer break has come and gone so we are back to a new Wharfedale rugby season with the first of our two pre-season warm up games (not friendlies!!) for the first team squad.

Holidays and cricketing commitments, coupled with a handful of long standing injuries which are responding well to treatment, see the Greens, and no doubt our opposite numbers at Blaydon, going in to Saturdays game with fringe players eager to make a favourable impression with the respective coaching staffs.

Blaydon will begin their second season in North Premier after missing out on promotion back to National Two North with a defeat in last seasons play off game at Luctonians.

Also up for grabs this weekend is the Andrew Baggett Cup. This trophy is competed for on an annual basis and is currently held by Wharfedale who retained the silverware following last seasons 21 all draw at the Avenue. Andrew was a stalwart for both clubs and is still heavily involved in rugby in the North East as coach at Middlesborough.

Kick off is at 2.30pm and for those intending to make the journey up the A1(M) on Saturday the address for Blaydon Rugby Club is Crow Trees, Hexham Road, Swalwell, NE16 3BN.

The squad will be from the following: –

M Beesley, T Asejevs, J Hirst, J Jackson, S Booker, D Stockdale, M Speres, M Hunting, J Mason, G Hedgley, M Houghton, C Walker, J Taylor, R Baldwin, E Stockton, S Gaudie, W Lawn, H MacNab, R MacNab, T Mann, W Edwards, O Cicognini, O Bullock, R Wellock, A Williamson, B Blackwell and R Hodgson.