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Where are you this weekend? - 2025/26

West Hartlepool vs Percy Park - West finished 4th in Regional 2 North last season and Park dropped down from R1NE so be interesting to see what the gap is like
West Hartlepool - how the mighty have fallen.

I watched WH against Sunderland (my daft Welsh mate was Sunderland SH). Sunderland got beaten about 80-0, he got hammered, stamped on, punched and flattened in equal measure. Fast forward four years or so and I'm watching the 1987 RWC. "I recognise those two" says I, as I see New Zealand line up against Italy in the first game - Alan and Gary Whetton - I suppose he's lucky to be alive. :LOL:
 
Local club is hosting a 4-team 10s RR to open their account. Probably doing all of it myself due to the late notice (new leadership, so typical bungling).
 
West Hartlepool - how the mighty have fallen.

I watched WH against Sunderland (my daft Welsh mate was Sunderland SH). Sunderland got beaten about 80-0, he got hammered, stamped on, punched and flattened in equal measure. Fast forward four years or so and I'm watching the 1987 RWC. "I recognise those two" says I, as I see New Zealand line up against Italy in the first game - Alan and Gary Whetton - I suppose he's lucky to be alive. :LOL:

Yup, very proud of their heritage, and lot's of reminders around the club, but certainly not where they were - in a fairly stable position now though so I think the fall has stopped. Sunderland got themselves promoted last season so that fixture is back on, and potentially one for me, so if you and your daft welsh mate end up in the area on match day let me know!
 
I sadly am in Blackpool on Gymnastics taxi duty with my daughter, can't wait!
I feel your pain !

At the probably thousands of rugby games I've attended in many capacities down the years I have never felt the cold like I've felt watching my beautiful daughter's hockey games!
(Too intoxicated to insert appropriate commas)
 
This "weekend"- on a Friday night, N2N : AR1

  • Darlington Mowden Park v Tynedale

For those who don't know DMP play at a huuuuuuggggge stadium (bettered only by Welford Road as a club ground in England), which if it were able to be filled could hold 25,000 spectators. Due to safety regulations they can only open one touchline length stand and they get a crowd of a about 600-1200. That said they are on course for a better season results wise and this weekend is "derby" weekend which is when all N2N play their derby fixtures.

On the down side the pitch is shit (maybe ok as we're still in September) and our old Comms sets were not the best inside the stadium. Hopefully the new ones will be better.

Tynedale have Dean Richards as a consultant (his lad plays for them) and I am anticipating Newcastle with the Red Bull money farming lads out to the likes of Tynedale and DMP in due course.

Both won last week so this should be good under the lights (assuming DMP can afford to put them on).

Darlo.jpg
 
Coaching some new-ish referees at Colgate University.

Sadly, after my weekend at the pre-season Saranac Lake Can-Am tournament, I had a heart attack and bypass surgery, so my (on-field) season was over before it started.
Jeez! but at least you got the right outcome. Get well soon.
 
Coaching some new-ish referees at Colgate University.

Sadly, after my weekend at the pre-season Saranac Lake Can-Am tournament, I had a heart attack and bypass surgery, so my (on-field) season was over before it started.
Blimey!
Get well soon.
A former colleague of mine, aged 54, went up Skiddaw (Lake District) last month. At the top he had a heart attack and sadly didn't make it. He was
in the gym a couple of times a week.
Take care.
 
PIcking the whistle back up for the marathon march until December

Wisconsin La Crosse @ Illinois St women

Season opener for both; hosts are active for the first time in ~2 years due to a school-enforced suspension.
 
Consett vs Upper Eden (L6) - Consett seem to have lost a few players and may struggle this season, poor pre-season against a L7 club and didn't handle the on pitch pressure well, and have had two league losses already - hopefully a little more realistic about their expectations, Upper Eden I've only had once before, 1W 1L so far, so potential for a decent contest - I fear the rain will win based on current forecast though :-(
 
Wisconsin @ Illinois B-Side. Teams have had some games under their belt, so should be feisty.

After that, not a clue when/where my next game is - October assignments went out yesterday, and I got nada.
 
This weekend

N2N AR2

Hull Ionians v Sheffield

Hull (1W 1D 1L) mid table as they generally are every year and Sheffield picking up where they left off last year with 15pts from 3 games - joint top - averaging over 40 pts a game and conceding an average of 15.

Should be a straightforward Sheffield win but I did this fixture 2 years ago and I's upset the formbook - so you never know. No game last week so I stayed dry and watched the England game. :)
 
Wisconsin @ Illinois B-Side. Teams have had some games under their belt, so should be feisty.

After that, not a clue when/where my next game is - October assignments went out yesterday, and I got nada.
Funny story…

Thursday, the assigner emails the referee group that the assigned referee for the Illinois women (11am KO) has fallen ill, and asks if anyone will take it. I offer to double up if no one takes it, but never hear back…until 1030 this morning when the assigner calls and asks if my offer still stood.

I was originally heading to help AR the mens A side game pro bono (not officially assigned, but the center is a good friend), but I check the GPS (I can get there around 11am), and say I’ll take it, but KO is moving to 1130. I square things with the center and the match sec for the men’s side, and haul ass on the backroads - it was homecoming for the football team, so my usual route was a no-go.

Ended up getting a barnburner of a game; visitors won 30-26 in a back and forth game that came down to the final play.

The B side…I fucking hate turf when it’s 80+F without a cloud in the sky.
 
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