Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC’s Under-16’s capped a great season by adding the Kukri Midlands Rugby League Championship trophy to the League Leaders’ title they had already secured with a splendid victory over North East Worcestershire Ravens at Derby in the final.   The win was all the more satisfying since Ravens had won the previous league meeting between the sides and must have fancied their chances.

Bulldogs started stutteringly, knocking on the kick-off, but moments later Ravens did just the same. Reapplying themselves, Brum took the lead after five minutes following a penalty close to the Ravens’ line: after two forward drives, the ball was spun right to centre Ryan Millar who went over wide out, stand-off Beatty adding a good conversion.

Birmingham looked full of running, but Ravens were beginning to find their rhythm, and the remainder of the half saw each side go close with a series of attacks that ended with knock-ons or turnover ball.

Half Time: Birmingham Bulldogs 6, North-East Worcestershire Ravens 0

Brum got the start they were looking for at the start of the second half. From a scrum they took play to the Ravens’ line where prop James Lawless-Fisher drove over by the posts to give Beatty a simple conversion.

Ravens responded, and showed no mean skill, but were prone to handling errors at this stage of the game. One such, in defence, came from a knock on after an astute high kick from Fensome which gave Brum a further attacking set; they took full advantage, Millar being on the ending of some dextrous handling to score in the left corner & Beatty adding an excellent touchline conversion.

Then came a splendid piece of opportunism by scrum half Chris Fensome: Ravens knocked on some 20 metres out, and the alert Fensome twice kicked the loose ball ahead before regathering and making it over the line with defenders snapping at his heels. The try took the score to 22-0 with Bulldogs in command.

A splendid break by Ravens’ Hall-Annison that seemed certain to yield a try was snuffed out by a brave ankle-high tackle from Brum’s Curtis Wellington.

This was followed by perhaps the most spectacular score of the match: from a scrum barely 20 metre out, Millar broke on the blind side and ran 80 metres to outpace the pursuing Ravens’ defence and cross the line, cutting in behind the posts for his hat-trick try, which Beatty duly converted.

Ravens were reeling, but drew on all their strength. From a penalty restart, some deft handling saw right centre Alex Flinders touch down in the right hand corner and, right on the stroke of full time, his centre partner Will Greenwood went over from short range, with loose forward Reuben McKenzie adding a good conversion.

Coming so late in the match, though, these scores were consolations: It was emphatically Bulldogs day. Beatty took man-of-the-match honours but there were other contenders in Brum’s ranks too numerous to mention. After his team-mates had collected their medals skipper Simon Stevens walked up to collect his and to lift the trophy, rounding off a great match, a great day and a great season.

Under 16s (Year 10 & 11)

AWAY at Derby City (FINAL vs NEW Ravens – 1.15pm Kick off

Can players please meet at 10.15am at Aston Old Eds RFC (B44 0HP)

For further details contact Russell Parker on 07854637505.

Under 14s (Year 8 & 9)

NO GAME THIS WEEKEND.

For further details contact Mark Almond on 07917620422.

Under 12s/11s (Year 5, 6 & 7)

AWAY at Derby City (Festival) – 12pm to 3pm

Can players please meet at 10.15am at Aston Old Eds RFC (B44 0HP)

For further details contact Mick Hipkiss on 07727198141.

We will be traveling by car so please let Russ or Mick know if you are available to assist with lifts on Sunday or if you intend to travel directly to Derby; please meet there at 11.30am.

Please bring your own shorts and socks and £3 match subs.

Note that there is also the U14 Final at 12pm & Open Age Final at 3pm.

Derby City RLFC, Haslams, Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire,DE22 1EB.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/derbycityrugbyleaguefootballclub/?primary=aboutus&secondary=location

PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT THE JUNIORS ON FINALS DAY.

Congratulations to the Bulldogs U16 team who won their semi-final against Northampton Knights on Sunday to go one better than last year.

They now meet North East Worcestershire (NEW) Ravens in the KMRL finals day next Sunday 15th August at Derby City RLFC 1.15pm kick off.

The Bulldogs started the game slowly & were soon behind after Knights played some good open rugby during the first part of the game. The Knights continued to dominate the early exchanges & scored 3 tries in the opening quarter before Bulldogs managed a score towards the end of the half, resulting in a 4-16 deficit at half time & give themselves some encouragement for the next half despite the disappointing opening half.

The second half started with a spectacular score as stand-off Lewis Beatty kicked early in the tackle count from close to the Bulldogs line to surprise the Knights & link with England trialist Ryan Miller, who showed his speed to win the chase to the ball & raced away to the line from halfway.  The Bulldogs now had the momentum & began to dominate the 3rd quarter as they ran in a further unanswered 5 tries to lead 36-16, with all players showing a great spirit & enthusiasm in both attack & defence. 

Beatty controlled & distributed the ball superbly in the center of the park, putting in a deserved man of the match winning performance & also kicking 5 goals, although he was pushed by Miller who completed a hat-trick of tries with some great speed & attacking runs.  The Bulldogs closed out the game in the final quarter with the Knights scoring a deserved late try to complete their scoring as they competed to the end, although Bulldogs had the final say as they scored on the final whistle.

The Bulldogs will go into the final with the confidence of a good performance & comfortable win behind them.  However, they will be aware that NEW Ravens will prove tough opposition as they came from behind to beat the Bulldogs in the closing stages a few weeks ago & spoil their previous unbeaten run this season.

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC came as close as they have ever done to a victory against Coventry Bears. In a see-saw match, a late try by the visitors took the spoils as Brum seemed set to end a ten-year wait for a win against their nearest rivals.

Two successive penalties to Birmingham took them into the visitors half. From the restart a great break by Gardner set up a position from which prop Nigel Burrows, in fine form, charged over for a try which was goaled by wing Danny Bancroft to give the hosts the best of starts. Bears responded promptly, prop Ryan Jenkins going over following a scrum.

Cov then went ahead for the first time after a penalty set up a position from which left centre Brad Massey crossed for a try which was goaled by second row Glen Burnside.Soon after, the lead was extended as second row Adam Booth finished off some good handling to cross between the posts, Burnside goaling.
Ten points down, Bulldogs reapplied themselves with vigour: a penalty award close to the Bears’ line saw swift hands from Homer and Harper put loose forward Glen Farnham over fro a try to which Bancroft added a good conversion.
Spurred on by this, Birmingham went downfield again, Bancroft kicked ahead and fellow winger Sam Bradley just won the race to touch down in-goal and level the scores.

HT: Birmingham Bulldogs 16 Pts, Coventry Bears 16

Some thunderous tackling from both sides, plus mistakes as the rain became more intense kept the third quarter scoreless. Coventry then went ahead for the second time as hooker Scott Clendenning-Fenton went over from acting half back for a try which he goaled himself.
Back came Brum with a typically determined score from left centre Drew Harper who somehow forced his way through a thicket of defenders to touch down; Bradley’s conversion once again tied the score at 22-22.
Bulldogs now began to believe that victory could be theirs, and went for it, regaining the lead as a typical die-straight driving run from second row Jo Baker took him over the line and between the posts for a try which gave Bradley a simple conversion and set the score at 28-22 to the home side.
Coventry responded promptly as Clendenning-Fenton ran on to a short pass to register his second try; the goal attempt just missed, leaving Birmingham hanging on at 28-26.
With very few minutes remaining, Bulldogs grabbed possession from the restart. But they lost it and Bears launched a counterattack: a high kick after the fifth tackle was grabbed by winger Tawana Chipadze who found space for a diagonal run to the posts to touch down, Burnside converting.
Brum did al they could to save the match, almost breaking through from a knock on, but to no avail. With due credit to the visitors, Bulldogs should at least have gained a draw from terrific encounter.
For Brum, Nigel Burrows was once again man-of-the-match, with Harper and, especially, Midgley were in strong contention. Second row Adam Booth took the award for Bears.

Summary: Birmingham Bulldogs 28, Coventry Bears 32
Birmingham: T. Burrows, Farnham, Bradley, Harper, Baker
                     G: Bancroft (2/3), Bradley (2/2)
Coventry: T. Jenkins, Massey, Booth, Clendenning-Fenton 2, Chipadze
  G. Burnside (3/5), Clendenning-Fenton (1/1)

Please meet at 11.30am and bring shorts, socks & £3 match subs on the day.

Please contact Russell Parker for any further information on 07854637505.

Note that there are no U14 or U12 fixtures this weekend, so please come along & support the U16′s team as they attempt to reach the KMRL final to be played next Sunday 15th August.

 The Midlands stalwart will attend several training sessions and match opportunities to try and stake his claim to be selected for the full squad. Ryan is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Northampton player Dan Brotherton who made the squad in 2009.

 A great athlete and dedicated rugby player Ryan’s performances in recent games against the North East and in the Origin series have caught the eyes of selectors who were quick to call up the promising youngster.

 “Ryan has shown that with the right attitude and commitment local players do have the opportunity to progress and play at a higher level. His impressive performances have also raised a few eye brows amongst the professional ranks” commented the Midlands Talent and Coaching Manager Martyn Rothwell.

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC were unable to repeat their success at Leicester from earlier in the season. Having survived some scares early on, Brum led at half time, but a resilient home side dominated the second half score wise. 
An early break by Conniff, always a threat, looked promising, but the attack ended with a turnover.
Birmingham then had to withstand a sustained spell in defence. Two knock-ons close to the line and one in-goal by Storm’s Watson saw Bulldogs hang on before a counterattack that failed with a knock on.
The deadlock was broken when a midfield break saw Leicester second row Karl Harris go over for a try in the corner. Within six minutes, Brum were level: a great run from Conniff saw him hauled down just a few yards from the line; the attack continued and a high kick from Bancroft was well taken in-goal by prop Nigel Burrows who touched down to level the score at 4-4.
Bulldogs now began to combine well and another great run from Conniff down the line saw him slip a pass inside to left centre Drew Harper who cut in for a try converted by right wing Danny Bancroft. Soon after, another attack down the left flank was unlucky to be called back for a forward pass. The hosts hit back, and a superb cover tackle from Brum’s Hepple stopped a near-certain score.

HT:  Leicester Storm 4 Pts Birmingham Bulldogs 10

The first dozen-odd minutes of the second half were scoreless. Then Birmingham knocked on in the tackle and from the restart Storm’s second rower Greg Hurst went over in the left corner for a try; hooker Jamie Muggleton’s well-struck conversion levelled matters once more at 10-10.
A break from Leicester’s Latham then set up a score for strong-running centre Jack Powley, Muggleton’s goal restoring Storm’s lead at 16-10.
Back came Brum, with a remarkable score from Harper who launched a towering up-and-under which he ran on to regather himself, just holding off his pursuing defenders to go over for his second try to cut the deficit to two points.
Leicester were continuing to press, however: Brum full back Court did extremely well to hold up Oxton-Morris over the line, but Storm posted the decisive score as winger Jack Boothby, in lively form throughout, went on an angled run for a try by the posts that Muggleton goaled to give his side an eight-point lead. There was little time left for the two scores that Bulldogs needed to turn the game, and the – seemingly harsh – dismissal of Burrows for leading with the forearm was a further blow; Muggleton kicked a goal from the penalty to round off the scoring and disappointing afternoon for Birmingham.
Centre Jack Powley was man-of-the-match for Storm; his opposite number Drew Harper took the award for Brum, though Conniff was in very close contention. A note of praise, too, for full back Mark Court who gave a generally assured performance.
Bulldog must now pick themselves up for the visit of league leaders Coventry Bears next week [August 7]
(Aston Old Edwardians RUFC; k.o. 2:30)

Recent games between the two clubs have been very close, fiery affairs and this weekend will no doubt follow suit. The two clubs are very similar and share a very competitive rivalry. The Bulldogs will be once again looking for massive performance from the biggest pack in the league with the likes of Simon Homer, Ross Midgley & Nigel Burrows leading the line. While out wide, England international Drew Harper & the ever dependable Mark Court will be looking to continue their rich vein of form. The Bulldogs will once again be led  this week by skipper Rich Rainger.

Under 16s (Year 10 & 11)

NO GAME THIS WEEKEND.

Next weekend Sunday 8 August: HOME Semi-Final Details TBC.

For further details contact Russell Parker on 07854637505.

Under 14s (Year 8 & 9)

NO GAME THIS WEEKEND.

For further details contact Mark Almond on 07917620422.

Under 12s/11s (Year 5, 6 & 7)

AWAY at Coventry (Festival) – 12pm to 2pm

Can players please meet at 10.30am at Aston Old Eds RFC (B44 0HP)

Estimated return time to AOE is 3.30pm to 4.00pm.

Please bring your own shorts and socks and £5 match subs.

We will be traveling by car so please let Andy Swann know if you are available to assist with lifts on Sunday (07501 880299), or if you intend to travel directly to Coventry (http://www.coventrybears.co.uk/directions/):

Old Coventrians RFC
Corner of A45 and Tile Hill Lane, Tile Hill, Coventry,CV4 9DE.

For further details contact Andy Swann on 07501880299.

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC recorded their second win in three meetings with Bristol Sonics to occupy the second place in the league table that had been their opponents’ prior to kick off. It was a generally assured show by Brum, at least until the last dozen-odd minutes when Sonics posted two late scores .
Birmingham went on the attack from the kick off, but Bristol held out and then gained a penalty. Bulldogs though were quickly into gear and pacey prop Nigel Burrows won the race to an early kick by Danny Bancroft to open the scoring with a try that Bancroft goaled. Soon after, a break by Farnham opened up the visitors’ defence but possession was lost. Then McGregor just failed to ground the ball after and up-and-under.
But Brum were looking confident, and a scorching run down the right touchline from stocky winger Bradley ended with a deft inside pass to loose forward Chris “Saffa” Humphrey who crossed for a try. Bancroft added a fine conversion from wide out.
Sonics went on the attack, but Bulldogs’ defence was excellent: Sonics’ Marson was twice held up over the line as the home pack, with Midgley, Homer and Tate to the fore, put in some thunderous tackles.
Then back to the attack for the hosts, as another strong drive form Burrows ended with him crossing the line before generously offloading to left centre Drew Harper who touched down behind the posts; right wing Sam Bradley added the goal points.
 
HT: Birmingham Bulldogs 18 Pts, Bristol Sonics 0

Brum got just the start to the second half they wanted with two scores in six minutes:
first Burrows, causing problems for Bristol nearly every time he had the ball, refused to succumb to a three-man tackle, twisting his way out and stretching over the line to touch down, scrum half Dean Morris converting. Then came perhaps the most spectacular score of the match, as from within his own half, right centre and skipper Rich Rainger went on a storming solo run to the posts, Morris again adding the extras to make it 30-0 to the home side.
Down, but not out, Sonics began to claw their way back into the game. Three successive attacking sets failed: on a penalty, with a knock on, and on a turnover on the sixth tackle.
But Bristol kept at it and gained due reward as, having gone downfield from a penalty, industrious hooker Harry Marson went over from acting half back wide out on the left for a try to which stand off Dom Swann added a well-struck conversion.
As Sonics maintained their momentum, Marson went over for his second try that was a near carbon copy of his first, Swann again goaling from wide out.
But the deficit was too great, given the time remaining, for any late upset; Brum returned to the attack again, but knocked on with the last attacking move of the match.
So, for a week at least, Birmingham have a home playoff spot, However their two remaining matches against Leicester and Coventry are tougher than Bristol’s, and any of these three could be Bulldogs opponents in the playoffs.
Prop Nigel Burrows was Brum’s man-of-the match, with Midgley and Homer in contention.  Second row Joe Coghlan pipped Stafford Lloyd to the award for Bristol.
Next week [31 July], Bulldogs visit Leicester who defeated them at home just three week’s ago. All to play for.
__________________________________________________________________________

Summary: Birmingham Bulldogs 30, Bristol Sonics 12
Birmingham: T. Burrows 2, Humphrey, Harper, Rainger
G: Bancroft 2, Bradley, Morris 2
Bristol: T. Marson 2
G: Swann 2
__________________________________________________________________________

Birmingham Bulldogs 2nd XIII fought out an absorbingly tense 20-all draw with Nottingham Outlaws 2nd’s
Falling behind to an early converted try from Notts, Brum responded with a try from right centre Jack “Cactus Jack” Edwards.
A goal line drop-out by Birmingham then enabled a an attacking set by the visitors leading to another converted try to put them ahead 12-4 at the break.
A great start to the second half saw stand-off Travis McIntyre touch down for Bulldogs, the excellent Danny Norton adding the goal.  A terrific up-and-under from Joe Madden then caused an Outlaws defender to collide with a post, and Madden dived on the loose ball for a try which Norton converted to make it 16-12 to Brum.
Notts regained the lead with a converted try off a “power play after the fifth tackle, only for Bulldogs to respond with a try for debutant winger Adam Conniff to make it 20-18 for the hosts. Finally, a late penalty goal for Outlaws levelled it at 20 points all, which was a pretty fair result and one that should ensure Brum 2nds a playoff place in the Midlands Regional League.