On top of the desire to continue our winning streak against Newcastle's rivals, this match also determined whether or not NUWRFC 1XV would be the outright winners of their BUCS league, (Northern Premier). They needed at least four tries to: (1) win varsity; (2) come out on top of a tough league (for the first time in the club’s history); (3) have a chance to play off a Southern team to be promoted into Super BUCS. So, on Wednesday the 5th of February, under the floodlights at Coach Lane, the game was on.
The game kicked off in front of a substantial and growing crowd featuring an equal number of supporters for both teams and one lion with a megaphone. Both sides looked and started out playing as though they were hungry for a win.
The Newcastle side’s attack stood out as particularly strong, elegantly overwhelming the Northumbria defence and scoring two solid tries in the first half, converted skilfully by our resident kicker, Ellie Thompson. The opposition replied with their own, admittedly, impressive try with a cross-field kick and chased directly across Newcastle's try line. In the last 10 minutes of the half, Northumbria stepped up the intensity again, forcing Newcastle to defend their try line in a brutal clash between both teams’ forwards.
Both sides looked and started out playing as though they were hungry for a win.
At the half-time whistle the score stood at 14-5. Newcastle were halfway to their 4-try goal and both teams came tearing back onto the pitch with something to prove. Nerves now dissipated, the second half is where the game truly swung into action.
Newcastle went from ecstasy to despair as one of the back row, Hermione Farmer, charged through a wall of Northumbria defenders over the try line and landed in a heap of bodies. We were hopeful but the referee inspected the dog pile and made the call, “held up”. As the half progressed it seemed as though Northumbria faltered in momentum, making too many unforced errors which the uni side deftly took advantage of.
On the other side, however, Newcastle’s second half was calculated, consistent and merciless - scoring not only the all-important 2 tries but an additional 2 over the course of the half. Despite the pretty steady confidence in our performance, Northumbria did not back down without a fight.
One of the highlights of the match was delivered by one of the Northumbria wingers. Catching a highball in her own half, the winger breezed past the scattered Newcastle defence and up the right-hand wing at breakneck speed. Whilst everyone was waiting for the referee to whistle a try, there was a shocked roar from all sides of the pitch. In a fashion of absolute tragedy, the Northumbria player had accidentally let the ball slip from her arms before she had a chance to score.
There was disarray, some opposition players falling to their knees in grief. The Newcastle team ended the game with the same joyful, supportive, and uplifting feeling which carried this impressive squad through a whole season of tough fixtures.
Despite the pretty steady confidence in our performance, Northumbria did not back down without a fight.
Newcastle won with 6 try’s and 4 conversions (scored by Grace Ross, Abbie Dixon, Holly Robinson, Kate Eley, and Hermione Farmer) versus Northumbria’s 2 making it a 40-10 victory. Almost as soon as the final whistle blew, Coach Lane was flooded with Newcastle supporters who showered the squad in hugs and congratulations. Having accomplished their goals and having won Varsity, the Newcastle squad will face Brunel in the North/South playoff to determine which team will be promoted to the country’s top BUCS league.
All in all, it was another nerve-wracking but exciting varsity clash as Newcastle rode the high of the end of an era of Northumbria domination.