Scoops Headlines
Read On
January 2008
SWITCH on a first class rugby match on TV at the moment and you won’t be surprised if Dave Pearson, the Northumberland full time referee, is the man in the middle. A more affable guy to chat to you will probably not find and he is well regarded on the refereeing circuit as well having been a touch judge at the recent RWC 2007. Talking to him recently he revealed his very first match was Ashington 3rds v Guisborough 3rds back in 1997. Can anyone from Guisborough remember that clash?
Boxing Day 2007
Guisborough Rugby Club Boxing Day Bonanza
What cracking entertainment there was at Guisborough on Boxing Day! The over-30s played the under-30s in front of a large crowd.
It was fun rugby at its best. A water boy, aged at least 60, attached himself to club sponge lady Lesley Tart. Trouble was his ‘water bottle’ was full of a brandy/sherry mixture – strangely no-one seemed to complain but Lesley’s patients were soon back on their feet. (England coach Brian Ashton please note this Guisborough tip!)
Lads tried to floor fathers. Mums, wives and partners on the touchline grimaced, worried and shook their heads in a mixture of sorrow, pity and maybe a lack of understanding.
Bev Muir, long suffering wife of ‘ancient’ scrum half Richie was over the moon though trying out her brand new Canon camera – allegedly the first present he had bought her for years.
Bill Suthers, a big egg at Teesside University managed to escape from family formalities. He was there with his family but was soon in the clubhouse given the weather. There’s a thought in Guisborough that the upper crust Belmangate families are not the hardiest!
Club Chairman Martin Tart was refereeing. He started off by penalising club captain Mattie Flint for running straight at him – where is that in the rule books? It’s up to refs, carrying too much turkey or not, to get out of the way. His son Andy, a stalwart at Chichester ‘darn souff’ appeared for the youngsters – no preference was shown but Andy declared he was off home shortly afterwards – a message perhaps?
‘Van’ Gough, the Jason Leonard of Guisborough rugby, appeared with the most massive black eye any boxer had seen for years. He blamed opposition at Stockton the week before and wife Janice confirmed that he had not been the victim of domestic violence over the dodgy hours of Christmas family time.
Jan works as an executive at a local upmarket superstore – she encouraged solace from customers but few could believe her sad tale.
At half time it was into the clubhouse, because of the East Cleveland cold, for the TLC of the lovely Angie behind the bar. Angie must have saved many a life in her time with prompt service and willing ear – surely the chairperson of the barpersons union!
Rugby has many a story of ‘blind Irish referees’ but Guisborough is working hard to rectify this. At hooker they have been playing the wonderful Paul Corner whose day job is training guide dogs for the RNIB. He is often to be seen with a lovely Labrador or similar trudging through Westgate teaching the pooch to avoid local ne’er-do-wells! Paul has just received his first whistler’s certificate.
Back to the clubhouse – it was community spirit at its best. The players started a coin roll for charity. Local musician Judith Haswell turned up for a drink with her fan club and the mix and match was terrific.
Guisborough rugby club continues to be a major community player in a town that is slowly being decimated by a move away by businesses. Kids that go there on Sunday mornings to join their massive age range of teams will make friends and contacts for years.
Long let it keep going – it’s come a long way from a shed at the top of Belmangate.
October 2007
Dozey Ben is legless
BEN Mendoza, Guisborough’s first team flying winger was a call off this week and sent Coach Paul Towers an e-mail picture of just why.
There he was lying flat out with his foot at an amazing angle having just broken it at a ‘freshers’ do at University.
Words like ‘plank’ went flying round the system while Ben Bourne, a squad member suggested that if it was Mr Towers with a break like that he would have been training again on the Tuesday.
Needless to say Ben is out till Santa arrives
October 2007
Paul tells of his first jump
GUISBOROUGH’S veteran talented utility back Paul McCluskey revealed recently that his rugby career only happened due to four years in an army unit where parachute jumps were the norm. His Commanding Officer told ‘Nookie’ that if he completed the mandatory seven jumps he was ‘in the team’. ‘Nookie’ gulped, closed his eyes and did them and then shared a brief rugby career with a certain Lieutenant Rodber (the ex-Northampton Saints player). ‘Tim’ on a Saturday, ‘Sir’ on Monday.
June 2007
They played my tune said Chairman Tart
Annual General Meetings can be pretty dour avoided occasions. Sleep can often pervade. “Who was elected treasurer? Did they say £2000 or was it £200 for the President’s trip to Twickenham? No the flaming RFU haven’t done that have they?”
So with all this in mind clever Guisborough Chairman Martin Tart decided to stage this year’s mandatory constitutional ‘sleep in’ to music. The top brass Belmangate egg chasers congregated snugly in the lounge while local band ‘The Classics’ went through a sixties routine just next door in the function room for all to hear.
June 2007
Will Captain Flint make it treasure for Guisborough?
Matthew Flint, 24, was recently appointed as the new captain at Guisborough Rugby Club. The back row man has been with the club since he was eight years old and was a popular replacement for Paul Devonport who is departing for a new life in Australia.
Ian Giddings, club treasurer and a member willing to turn his hand to any job within the club was named as clubman of the year while Martin Tart, now a Yorkshire Society referee, retained his role of chairman.
April 2007
Rugby raises buckets full of cash
Four Guisborough players were involved in the Teesside Barbarians match last Saturday. The Barbarians had been challenged to an end of season outing against a team raised by Mike Wright soon to retire after nearly forty years in a sports role at Nunthorpe School.
The Barbarians players came from clubs around the locality whilst Mike's side comprised of players who had at one stage or other passed through the school. In the end fitness told and it ended up 72-27 to the Barbarians but who cared?
It was a terrific afternoon with a bucketful of cash raized for Alzheimers and Cancer charities.
Well done everyone, well done Sir!!
(L-R) Paul Towers, Ben Mendoza, Paul Devonport and Tom Rose. The white jerseys represented Nunthorpe.
April 2007
Guisborough up in arms re RFU decision
GUISBOROUGH are up in arms after being deducted two league points through no fault of their own.
It’s all over the visit of Winlaton several weeks ago when the Yorkshire Society referee failed to appear. Guisborough fixture secretary, John Davies had put everything in place as per usual but no ‘whistler’ show on the day turned into no match even though Guisborough offered ex-Yorkshire referee Ian Giddings, a club member, to officiate.
March 19th 2007
Wallsend Rugby Club fall to Guisborough and Nicky
No-one was going to beat the Guisborough senior rugby string on Saturday. They had buried their lovely Nicky Weastell the day before and emotions were high and supercharged as a minute’s silence was observed in front of the game.
The lads had been without a game for nearly six weeks so to add to the feelings there was a need to get back on the pitch again and to win some points.
And Wallsend were the unlucky targets returning home 15-0 losers in a supercharged match played in a howling gale.
The game started ferociously. Wallsend throwing everything including the kitchen sink at Guisborough. Guisborough stood firm and with brilliant defence from Paul Devonport's men started to take the game to the visitors.
Scrum half Tom Rose sent his men into ruck after ruck and slowly Guisborough worked their way up from their 22 metre line to the Wallsend's 22 only to be denied by a loose pass to the floor.
The half time interval saw the introduction of club stalwart Ritchie Muir into the centre for the injured Jamie Mulholland and this time Guisborough kicked off with the wind at their backs. With 48 minutes on the clock Wallsend where defending their line ten yards out with a scrum. Pressure from the Guisborough scrumhalf on his opposite number caused a fumble for Paul Towers only to whip up the ball and fall over the line to score.
On 65 minutes Tom Rose took a quick penalty sending Des Horton through a gap to run more than half the length of the pitch for the second. Wallsend came back at them but with Guisborough in no mood to concede any points they tackled their hearts out.
With 70 minutes gone the referee sin-binned Guisborough’s Mark Richardson for what could only be mistaken identity but down to 14 men they soaked up the pressure and actually played some great rugby.
Chris Rye set up the try of the match with a deft chip that the Falcons Jonny Wilkinson would of be proud of. The call came for Ben Mendoza to be ready. The ball came back and with all the composure of his 33 years Rye launched the chip for Ben to chase - and chase he did speeding past the Wallsend winger to dive on the loose ball. Coach Paul Towers spoke afterwards saying: "That was one of the best performances I have ever seen at Guisborough. There must be special mention for Tom Rose who at 18 played above his years and exactly how we asked him to in training.”
Nicky Weastell departed on March 10 2007 but she will live on and on at Guisborough rugby club.
Feb 2007
Guisborough Rugby club announce new website
GUISBOROUGH rugby club have launched a brand new website. Under the overview of first team stalwart, Paul Towers, it is there not only to promote the club but also to engage players, members and enthusiasts in positive communication.
In addition the club has a magnificent facility for dances, parties and concerts and rates are tailored to the hirer and his/her needs.
Visit the site here for further information and contact numbers. It’s a community facility at the top end of Belmangate with plenty of parking and fully licensed. A St Patrick’s night is already scheduled for 17 March 2007 – only £5 to include supper.
Jan 2007
Guisborough's new coach
Paul Towers has been appointed the new coach at Guisborough Rugby club.
Towers, 33, has been with the club since he was 17, enticed away from Acklam by the legendary coach Jim Short who then went on to coach in Europe.
He replaces Martin Tart who stands down for family reasons but who continues in his role as club chairman.
Towers said: "This is not retirement for me - I still have a hunger to play. I have always wanted to coach my home town club and this is a great chance."
Things have started well for him Last week the club hosted Houghton and they won 17-7 leaving them 5th in Durham and Northumberland 2.
June 2003
GUISBOROUGH Rugby Club have staged their annual dinner at the Belmangate
clubhouse. Awards went to Paul Towers (First Team Player of the Year), Mal
Coote (Second Team Player) whilst the most Improved Club Player was Andy
Newham. Speaker was Mike Lewis from Stourbridge.
Nov 2002
ONE MIGHT have thought the Guisborough clubhouse would have possessed the
solemnity of an undertaker's front parlour last Saturday after their
seventh league defeat which left them on minus two points in D and N Two.
But not a bit of it. The players were smiling and upbeat.
Steward Arthur Bailey and his ladies were as busy as ever and the usual
rugby club wit and humour permeated through.
Coach Martin Tart, skipper Paul Towers and outside half Jonty Weastell were
all happy to mull over the season to date.
The obvious question is "what's gone wrong?"
"Nothing really," insisted Weastell. "We got to this division with reliance
on the individual, but spirits are good with three teams often out on a
Saturday, all socialising together."
"Believe it or not our lads are on a high," revealed Tart. "By team
consensus we have returned to 'back to basics' training and have altered
our pre-match approach."
"There's a long way to go in the season. My own safety barrier is to ignore
the reality of the league tables, ignore adverse press and to avoid panic."
And Weastell sees an improvement in results on the cards.
"We still have players coming back," he pointed out.
"Honestly we are not worried, we are improving every week. Today was just
about a single point and at times we were magnificent."
"We are going to concentrate until Christmas on good positional drills,"
said Tart, "but also the basics of rucks, mauling and tackling.
"Did you see some of our tackling today (against Seaton Carew)?
Beyond that, the future is bright too, according to Weastell.
And what of the future?
"We know we improving every week," he said. "We should have taken the Blyth
match and the match against Seaton had just one point in it.
"Every week Lady Luck seems to deal us some bad cards but that cannot go on
for ever.
"Our first team squad has now increased to 25. That's really encouraging."
Towers too can see reason for optimism.
"I am encouraged by individuals," he said. "Flanker Andy Newham has risen
through the ranks and utility back Matt Stephany grows match by match.
"Dessie Clements has found a new lease of life in the centre. Mick
Pattinson, who played at full-back against Seaton, was for seasons regarded
as a second team player.
"Then one night we had a real man-to-man discussion at the bar and now he
is a first team selection.
"Alan Buckton was a write-off with a detached retina, but he's now looking
for a first team place again."
"I draw greatly from the whole club," said Tart. "I spend enough time here!
"It's buzzing from Under-5s to the senior ranks. Players keep coming at
senior level and I know we will win matches.
"There is no magic formula to pluck from a textbook but I know hard graft
and players turning up for training on rotten nights will pay dividends."
The Guisborough of today (pop 21,000) is a town previously dependent on the
likes of peripatetic ICI workers in a floating 1970s and '80s economy.
Now that has mainly stopped, it should give more permanency to the still
growing area.
Perhaps this will filter down to the town's sports teams and allow the
likes of Weastell, Towers and Tart to really build.
As in many parts of our area, the rugby club is an oasis of comradeship and
friendship.
"Lets not let league rugby chase that out and trust the optimism shown by
these enthusiasts wins through.
May 2002
By PETER GRIFFITHS
GUISBOROUGH Rugby Club knew they had a real coup on their hands when they
captured ex-Stewart's Melville giant, Finlay Calder, capped 34 times for
Scotland, to speak at their annual dinner.
But they had the shock of their lives when Calder, befriended by a couple
of Guisborough members on the recent Lions tour to Australia, presented
them with his original Lions blazer from the fabulously successful 1989
tour Down Under.
Skippered by Calder and Managed by Clive Rowlands, the Lions lost only one
game on that tour, the first test, and went on to take the series.
Calder made presentations to Tim Leng, first XV player of the year, Andy
Newham, second team player, with Neil Young being awarded most improved
player of the year.
Our picture shows club chairman Denis Childs, Finlay Calder and Guisborough
physio and press correspondent Lesley Tart.