By Edward Ainscoe
Following NURL’s 2006/07 season, the only way was up. Having failed to register a league win, the club welcomed back long time servant Rob Jones, ably assisted by Steven Thompson, to lead the club for the 2007/8 season. The club was able to recruit well, bringing in several notable freshers, bolstering the two squads the team ran during the season, and hopes were high for the season.
The First team narrowly avoided relegation, thanks in the main to a simpering letter penned by club secretary Kev Davey to the SRL, and competed in the Premier North division. Though outclassed by Leeds Met, the team was able to compete well throughout the year, scoring wins against Leeds Uni, against TASC in the play offs, and defeating our cross-city rivals Northumbria in the Stan Calvert clash, played for the first time under lights at Gateshead International Stadium. Freshers Mikey Ward, Ste Moorcroft and Liam McGee proved excellent acquisitions, with a number of the older players developing well.
The club’s second team also built upon its solid foundations from its first season, finishing a creditable fifth in the North East League and again beating Northumbria at Gateshead Stadium.
As the club charged into the 2008/9 season, hopes were high for a solid league finish following the restructuring of the SRL as a whole. The club scored notable wins against Napier, Liverpool John Moores and UCLan, finishing a creditable second in the league after some foul play by Leeds Met second team. Being drawn away against Loughborough in the Championship play offs appeared to be a daunting task, but the team played some of their best rugby in the challenge, despite a heavy defeat. This set the tone for Stan Calvert, played at a packed Gateshead Stadium after the Second team had demolished their opposite numbers. A remarkable come back from 14-0 down after only ten minutes to take a 34-20 win was the performance of the season, finishing a number of NURL players’ careers on a sweet note.
The second team again had a hugely positive season, only missing out on the league crown by virtue of points difference, with a number of solid victories and performances. The club’s strength in depth was a delight to see, with many second team players performing tremendously on being asked to play for the firsts.
