RUGBY CLUB POSITIVE FOR SEASON AHEAD
ASHBROOKE OUTFIT READY FOR DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND DIVISION TWO
Buoyant Sunderland Rugby Club are looking forward to this season’s Durham and Northumberland Division Two campaign with relish and high expectation.
Unbeaten in pre-season, the Ashbrooke side face a tough Hartlepool outfit away at Mayfield Park on Saturday, dropping back in the league after a season in DN1.
In a competitive league, Sunderland have already chalked up friendly wins at Cumbrian side Upper Eden Valley and 15-43 away to lower league neighbours South Shields.
Avoiding a potential banana skin away at ambitiousleaguenewcomers Newton Aycliffe, Sunderland navigated their first hurdle in the Durham County Cup with a 26-15 win last Saturday.
Club chairman Paul Geehan pointed to the addition of backs/attack coach John Geehan to a stable coaching team and the integration of promising youngsters from the club’s successful Colts set-up.
“There is genuine optimism this season, particularly given the strong run of results at the end of last season and our excellent pre-season form,” he said.
Sunderland’s first home game is next weekend, against North Shields.
On the back of England’s Women’s World Cup run, Sunderland’s women’s team, the Flames, kick off their season in a defence of the County Cup at Darlington on Sunday.
Number 8 Amber Stonehouse captains a squad back to full fitness, with Wearside Orthodontic Centre sponsoring the North 2 side.
Geehan added, “With the squad back to fitness, we will hope to see the women progress and finish in the top half of the table.”
Meanwhile, mini and junior registration takes place at Ashbrooke on Sunday from 10.30am.
The club is looking for youngsters interested in giving rugby a go, from Year 2 to Year 12, with teams for every age group, led by qualified coaches.
A junior club spokesman said: “We are a registered RFU Kids First club and believe in allowing children to develop new skills, make friends and have fun in a secure, family-friendly environment.”
For more information email srfcrugby@gmail. com or contact John Howe on 07745 846385. * Houghton and Seaham’s senior sides, who compete in Division Three again this season, must wait until September 16 for their first league games of the campaign.
In Division One, there is a big derby clash at Eden Lane in Peterlee this Saturday, with hosts Horden & Peterlee up against Durham City.
“There is genuine optimism this season” PAUL GEEHAN