NURL 1sts – 18
Liverpool John Moores – 12
The conquering NURL machine marches on despite rigorous testing at the hands of a burly and aggressive Liverpool John Moores team.
This was Newcastle’s first home match of the season and the team was desperate to impress the baying mob assembled at Fortress Cochrane Park.

The side was rocked hours before kick-off when point-machine full back Liam “The Kipper” Mcgee was ruled out with a sternum injury. Fortunately NURL could call on the services of alcoholic smoker Sam Boyd and his imperious defensive performance earned him the M.O.M in only his second game of league.
Boyd was one of several cheese-dick freshmen that had justly kept their place in the 1sts after the destruction of Napier and like Christopher Reeve the new blood continues to have palpable effects.
Jo Robinson and Michael Bryan were the instigators of some uncompromising defence in the opening exchanges with Andrew Urquhart taking some meaty hit-ups when NURL had the pig-skin. Boisterous attitudes were a must against the LJM outfit who classically provide rough and cantankerous opposition and have remained unbeaten against Newcastle for 3 years in the top flight.
Sean Howells (20 shirt) attempting to eat the John Moores back-rower
Newcastle were first on the score sheet when back-row turned centre Michael Ward hit a gap with the ferocity of a pig farmer tanning his wife. The neat inside ball from Robse Greaves allowed Ward to barge over from 20 yards and was a just crescendo after some intense pressure in the LJM half. It proved to be the only score in a tense and aggressive first half thanks to rugged defence from both outfits.
The half-time break afforded NURL a pleasant surprise when Coach Rob Jones thundered through the Cochrane Park gates in his caravan. Fresh from a leisurely jaunt on the Blackpool promenades the boss had an immediate positive effect as the half resumed with Sam Jacques kicking game really opening up the Liverpool rear guard.
Evergreen Lock Richard Massey defies his age and antique boots to munch LJM’s most potent attacker
Newcastle piled on the pressure but a desperate clearing kick from John Moores put them on the score sheet when NURL’s Dave Furnis got caught in goal and subsequently lost the ball to the benefit of one of his tacklers. It was as if the Winger was presenting his prize pumpkin to the village committee, and boy did they like the taste!
The team rallied and immediately found redemption on behalf of Furnis when Greaves and Ward rekindled their combination to score once more from the inside ball. The try was converted by Jacques and then quickly matched by John Moores who levelled the scores after breaking out wide.
The Scousers’ scrum-half and rangy centre were constant threats and really bought the best out of the Newcastle defence during a nail-biting final quarter. Sam Boyd leaped like a Marlin to diffuse the high bombs and latched on to any break through runners like some type of parasitic goblin. Jim Phillips had a fine 1sts debut and built on solid work by his fellow second rower Dave “Fort” Knox in defence.
With 5 minutes to go there was end-to-end action and after what could have been a costly penalty miss from Jacques it seemed the teams would share the spoils. The stand-off lased his wellies back up and immediately made up for the error when his towering kick bamboozled the JM winger and bounced perfectly for Rich Massey to stagger over the whitewash and take the game.
Post-Grad Massey had previously played for Liverpool so took particular relish in the try along with the entire NURL staff who joined him on the pitch in the trademark un-couth manner.
After the successful conversion NURL had to withstand 2 minutes of desperate Liverpool tackling and attack but managed to hold their collective nerve for a fantastic and overdue victory over the Scouse rivals.