22 www.RUGBY TIMES.com 22 May 2009
NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO 2008-2009 REVIEW
BLAYDON - 10th
WESTCOMBE PARK - 11th SOUTHEND - 12th
MOUNTS BAY - 13th WATERLOO - 14th
B
LAYDON will go into next
season with a new look,
certainly in terms of their
N
OT many people would have
predicted Westcombe Park
would be heading for S
OUTHEND’s stay in National
Two has been limited to just two
seasons but despite their
M
OUNTS BAY’s future as a
rugby club seems to be in
some doubt at the end of O
NCE again Waterloo head into
a close season with a number
of unknowns against their
leadership both on and off the relegation at the end of the
limited time at this level, they will what can only be described as a name.
field. 2008/09 season.
drop down a level after making a vastly disappointing campaign. The Blundellsands club seem to be
The north-east side survived a Long-serving coach Fraser
good impression. For a club that had been so making a habit of yearly coaching
drastic loss of form during the
Thomson had not only guided the
The Essex side did well in their first successful in their journey up through changes, though 2008/09 actually saw
second half of the season, with their
Kent outfit to promotion, but in their
campaign to finish in eighth spot under the English league system, the past the change of coach after the start of
win at home to Waterloo easing their
first season in National Two (2007/08)
Kevin Harman who left during the season saw the wheels fall off for the
the season.
relegation fears and ensuring they
they had surpassed all expectations to
summer to take up a role with Cornish side.
Chris O’Callaghan guided
will compete in level three for a third
finish in fifth place.
Premiership side London Wasps.
Indeed, there’s a harsh lesson for
Waterloo to 11 wins in his first season
consecutive season.
Ben Green replaced Harman at
Although a similar finish was not
any club who think that they can just
at the club but it was no surprise when
Director of rugby Nick Gandy
Warners Bridge Park with the Essex side
forecast, not many were suggesting
buy their way through the leagues; at
the Welshman decided to leave early in
has stepped down after work
opting to promote from within.
some point they will come a cropper
the season.
commitments took him away from
Park would be in the relegation zone at
Green always spoke well of his charges
and National League Two is just the
Club favourite Martin O’Keefe
the area, and Blaydon are still
the end of the 26-match programme.
who never seemed to get that little bit of
sort of league that will find clubs, not
stepped into the role though ‘Loo were
looking to find a replacement.
Although the season got off to
luck that can make so much difference
teams, out.
always going to be hard-pressed to
Just as important for Blaydon is
back-to-back defeats, wins at Southend
and which can mean finishing eighth or
Bay had recruited some good
the decision of captain Dave Guthrie
and at Waterloo did not suggest how in a relegation spot.
equal last season’s successes.
players, experienced campaigners like
to stand down, the 39-year-old
badly the Kent side would struggle. As well as Harman, the Essex side
Now O’Keefe has opted to
John Griffiths and Nick Burnett, point
signing off with a couple of tries in
Certainly the team had not
had also lost influential centre Faalpolu
concentrate on playing duties and the
scorers such as Dan Hawkes and the
the high-scoring win over Waterloo.
changed too much from the previous
Soolefai towards the end of the previous
club has announced a “fantasy”
undoubted talent of Josh Matavasi.
Guthrie admits relegation would year, though the loss of scrum-half
season and during the off-season prop
money-raising venture that sees fans
But close-season departures had
have been the wrong way to end his Gideon Roux and the lengthy injury
Mike Guess and back row Daniel Legge
have the opportunity in decision
left Bay thin on the ground and always
distinguished career with the club absences of fly-half James
opted to link up with Cambridge.
making with the Blundellsands club.
in need of some back-up, or some boost
and believes that a new face can get
Whittingham and No.8 Tom Hayman
Perhaps their departures were felt
A quick look at the website for the
Blaydon back on a regular winning
proved crucial.
more than expected and Southend’s
to get their season going. Indeed, coach
venture and perusal of the coaching
pattern.
season never really took off.
Adrian Bick had to fill in on numerous
staff reveals that “contracts are being
Hayman is certainly an influential
Certainly Blaydon’s early-season
“Frustrating” is probably a good way
occasions and late on in the campaign
discussed”.
figure at this level and Whittingham
form suggested they would be at
to describe their campaign; they scored
the Cornish side were unable to field a
How much say the new coach will
an important playmaker and points
best an outside bet for promotion,
plenty of points, especially early in the
side for their trip to Southend.
get in picking his team seems unclear
scorer, and you wonder how many
and at worst would be able to give
season and late-on. But they never got
The league decided to award
other clubs would have survived their
some of the leading contenders more
into the habit of winning games, close
Southend all five league points and a
but the concept is certainly unique.
absence for half the season.
than a run for their money.
yes, but closing games out seemed to be
20-0 scoreline though it was good to
Certainly it would have been
Pre-season the club had
The winter months were a their problem week in, week out.
see that Bay’s failure to travel was an
interesting to see how the fans would
recruited experience in the likes of
heartbreaking time for Thomson and Certainly coaches at other clubs in the
exception.
have fared last season during which
former Premiership star Brendon
his team at Goddington Dene.
division often spoke of their admiration
A player exodus now seems to be
time Waterloo finished bottom of the
table with just four wins to their name.
Daniel and experienced Wharfedale
As well as the absence of Hayman
for Southend as a club and as a playing
underway from the Penzance-based
In retrospect it would be
utility back Andy Baggett.
and Whittingham, the Kent side often
unit, and indeed their link with Saracens
club and that can’t be good for an
interesting to know what decisions
Indeed, Blaydon looked like a
had other injuries and absentees to
meant that players who will have a bright
organisation that is battling for its
future in the game made an impression
survival.
would have been made after the heavy
free-scoring side in early wins over
contend with; getting a settled side out
during the season.
An extraordinary general meeting
away defeats to the Cornish All Blacks
Waterloo, Tynedale, Stourbridge and often proved impossible and during
Tom Casson and Mike Stanley are has already been held following the
and Birmingham & Solihull. Or when
Mounts Bay. that period Thomson’s team could
two names that quickly spring to mind resignation of their management
when formidable prop O’Keefe had to
But wins of those kind became only record wins over Wharfedale and
from that category and if Southend can committee earlier this month.
pick himself in the second row to cover
rarer as the season progressed and as Waterloo.
keep their link with Saracens intact as President Michael Leah, chairman
an injury crisis.
the campaign went past the halfway
When they did find some
they drop down a level, then there’s no Arthur Edwards, secretary Dennis
It will be interesting to see what
mark wins of any kind were a bonus.
continuity they started to string wins
reason why the club cannot build on Axford and treasurer Darren Matthews
selections the fantasy players make,
Such was their loss of form that
together including a four-match
what turned out to be a disappointing have all stood down with creditors but will it work?
post-Christmas, Blaydon’s only wins
unbeaten run that gave them hope of season.
understood to be owed a five-figure
Despite all the problems –
were at home to Blackheath and that
avoiding relegation. Andy Frost contributed 161 points including being unable to raise a side
late success against Waterloo.
sum.
But defeat to neighbours despite appearing in just 14 games, 11 of for an EDF Trophy tie – Waterloo did
From being seen as promotion
Perhaps the biggest problem for
Blackheath finally ended their survival
which he started and he topped the try-
have some enjoyable moments.
contenders at the start of the season,
Bay is that they do not own their
scoring list with eight.
Pick of the bunch was the 18-13
the north-east club go into the
hopes and their season ended in facilities, renting their home ground
Highlights of the season included a
summer months as something of an
disappointing fashion with a 72-point from the Cornish Pirates, which means success over Cambridge in October,
39-15 success at Blackheath just two
unknown quantity for next term.
reversal at Cinderford in May. that apart from sponsorship their main and the wins over Stourbridge, Mounts
games into the new campaign, a 64-26
Certainly there’s plenty of
Assuming that Park can retain the
income comes from gate receipts. Bay and Southend all came during the
win over Waterloo and an unbeaten run
potential at Crow Trees Park and
bulk of their squad, and keep them
And during a disappointing season second half of the season and were
towards the end of the season that saw
with increasing links with Newcastle
free from injury and on the playing
gates have dropped off for the crucial in keeping morale up at a
Southend defeat Blaydon and
whoever gets the nod at Blaydon has
field, then Westcombe Park can be a
relegated outfit. difficult time.
Wharfedale, as well as having the home
plenty to work with.
force in next season’s National Two
That leaves Mounts Bay facing an
game against Mounts Bay awarded to
Other bright spots were the form of
Perhaps their chances for next South.
uphill struggle for the club’s survival,
them.
Martin Bell, picked from the club’s
season can only be judged not just by Certainly Thomson is looking to
and that has to be dealt with first and
Certainly if narrow defeats at
second string, and prop James Hall
waiting to see who is appointed, but continue his long association with the
foremost. Thoughts of player
Stourbridge, at home to Cinderford and
who performed well enough to pick up
on examination of the list of 'ins and
Kent side and put right the wrongs of Stourbridge had been reversed then their
recruitment will also need considering
a full-time contract with Coventry next
outs'.
this season. fortunes may have been so different.
but that obviously has to come second
term.
Until then it appears that
to getting the club operating within
And there’s no reason why Park
Given good luck and management
predictions over their future
their means.
can’t start to enjoy their rugby in their
it is to be hoped that a famous club like
prospects are only guesswork as
new surroundings and push for
Waterloo can find their level in
Blaydon head into another season at
promotion.
this level.
SOUTHEND - Results 2008-2009
MOUNTS BAY - Results 2008-2009
National Two North next season.
Date Opponents Result
Date Opponents Result
WESTCOMBE PARK - SSept 6 Cornish All Blacks (h) 23-30
Sept 6 Tynedale (a) 7-14
WATERLOO - Results 2008-2009
BLAYDON - Results 2008-2009 Results 2008-2009
Sept 13 Blackheath (a) 39-15
Sept 13 Redruth (h) 16-35
Sept 20 Westcombe Park (h) 25-35
Sept 20 Stourbridge (a) 13-44 Date Opponents Result
Date Opponents Result
Sept 27 Cambridge (h) 13-58
Sept 27 Birmingham & Solihull (h) 8-61 Sept 6 Blaydon (h) 8-46
Date Opponents Result
SSept 6 Blackheath (h) 10-13
Oct 4 Cinderford (a) 6-48
Oct 4 Cambridge (a) 3-76 Sept 13 Wharfedale (a) 12-23
Sept 6 Waterloo (a) 46-8
Sept 13 Cambridge (h) 5-40
Oct 11 Waterloo (h) 64-26
Oct 11 Blaydon (a) 7-40 Sept 20 Cornish All Blacks (h) 9-58
Sept 13 Tynedale (h) 24-5
Sept 20 Southend (a) 35-25 Oct 18 Tynedale (a) 20-29
Oct 18 Wharfedale (h) 14-18 Sept 27 Blackheath (a) 12-48
Sept 20 Redruth (a) 12-38
Sept 27 Cinderford (h) 18-21 Oct 25 Redruth (h) 7-32
Oct 25 Cornish All Blacks (a) 8-6 Oct 4 Westcombe Park (h) 33-40
Sept 27 Stourbridge (h) 37-16
Oct 4 Waterloo (a) 40-33 Nov 1 Stourbridge (a) 15-18
Nov 1 Blackheath (h) 28-22 Oct 11 Southend (a) 26-64
Oct 4 Birmingham & Solihull (a) 12-32
Oct 11 Tynedale (h) 18-18 Nov 8 Birmingham & Solihull (h) 14-39
Nov 8 Westcombe Park (a) 26-8 Oct 18 Cinderford (h) 5-46
Oct 11 Mounts Bay (h) 40-7
Oct 18 Redruth (a) 10-44 Nov 15 Mounts Bay (a) 15-40
Nov 15 Southend (h) 40-15 Oct 25 Cambridge (h) 18-13
Oct 18 Cambridge (a) 28-39
Oct 25 Stourbridge (h) 21-55
Oct 25 Wharfedale (a) 14-15
Nov 29 Blaydon (h) 14-24
Nov 29 Cinderford (a) 12-41 Nov 1 Tynedale (a) 20-50
Nov 1 Cornish All Blacks (h) 18-16
Nov 1 Birmingham & Solihull (a) 7-47 Dec 20 Blackheath (h) 23-30 Dec 6 Waterloo (h) 41-16 Nov 8 Redruth (h) 17-35
Nov 8 Blackheath (a) 14-25
Nov 8 Mounts Bay (h) 8-26
Jan 24 Cinderford (h) 20-21
Dec 20 Redruth (a) 10-41 Nov 15 Stourbridge (a) 20-51
Nov 15 Westcombe Park (h) 35-22
Nov 15 Blaydon (a) 22-35
Jan 31 Waterloo (a) 26-27
Jan 3 Stourbridge (h) 9-14 Nov 29 Birmingham & Solihull (h) 16-52
Nov 29 Southend (a) 24-14
Nov 29 Wharfedale (h) 13-10
Feb 7 Wharfedale (a) 12-32
Jan 24 Cambridge (h) 3-28 Dec 6 Mounts Bay (a) 16-41
Dec 20 Tynedale (a) 5-8
Dec 6 Cornish All Blacks (a) 19-45
Feb 14 Tynedale (h) 12-28
Jan 31 Blaydon (h) 12-0 Jan 3 Cornish All Blacks (a) 5-103
Jan 3 Redruth (h) 13-13
Dec 20 Cambridge (a) 17-22
Feb 21 Redruth (a) 14-48
Feb 14 Wharfedale (a) 16-28 Jan 17 Wharfedale (h) 27-42
Jan 24 Birmingham & Solihull (h) 15-31
Jan 24 Waterloo (h) 22-7
Feb 28 Westcombe Park (a) 21-28
Feb 21 Cornish All Blacks (h) 15-19 Jan 24 Westcombe Park (a) 7-22
Jan 31 Mounts Bay (a) 0-12
Jan 31 Tynedale (a) 14-46
Mar 7 Stourbridge (h) 23-24
Mar 7 Blackheath (a) 21-55 Jan 31 Southend (h) 27-26
Feb 21 Wharfedale (h) 27-35
Feb 14 Redruth (h) 13-15
Mar 14 Cambridge (a) 22-31
Mar 14 Birmingham & Solihull (a) 5-80 Feb 21 Cambridge (a) 0-91
Feb 28 Cinderford (h) 7-14
Feb 21 Stourbridge (a) 14-36
Mar 21 Birmingham & Solihull (a) 27-49
Mar 21 Westcombe Park (h) 14-40 Feb 28 Blackheath (h) 24-85
Mar 7 Cornish All Blacks (a) 19-23
Feb 28 Southend (h) 28-21
Mar 28 Mounts Bay (h) **20-0
Mar 28 Southend (a) **0-20 Mar 7 Tynedale (h) 14-38
Mar 21 Blackheath (h) 27-13
Mar 7 Birmingham & Solihull (h) 11-29
Apr 4 Blaydon (a) 43-28
Apr 4 Cinderford (h) 26-45 Mar 21 Redruth (a) 5-96
Mar 28 Westcombe Park (a) 10-12
Mar 21 Mounts Bay (a) 40-14
Apr 18 Wharfedale (h) 33-24
Apr 18 Waterloo (a) 31-51 Mar 28 Stourbridge (h) 10-5
Apr 4 Southend (h) 28-43
Mar 28 Blaydon (h) 12-10
Apr 11 Cambridge (h) 24-54 Apr 4 Wharfedale (a) 18-13
Apr 25 Cornish All Blacks (a) 23-33
Apr 25 Tynedale (h) 14-32 Apr 4 Birmingham & Solihull (a) 0-115
Apr 18 Mounts Bay (h) 51-31
Apr 18 Cinderford (a) 30-35 Apr 18 Cornish All Blacks (h) 34-19
Apr 25 Waterloo (h) 83-33 Apr 25 Blackheath (a) 19-30
**(match awarded 20-0 to Southend with 5 league points;
** (match awarded 20-0 to Southend with 5 league points; Apr 25 Blaydon (a) 33-83
May 2 Stourbridge (a) 7-46 May 2 Cinderford (a) 0-72
Mounts Bay have been deducted 2 league points)
Mounts Bay have been deducted 2 league points) May 9 Cinderford (a) 17-67
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