Sat 17 Oct 2026, 15:00
BAILDON knocked on the kick-off and were 7-0 down within two minutes, and then conceded a converted try to a charge down, but showed character in bucketloads to defeat Roundhegians 21-19 in Counties Yorkshire 2B at a sunny but chilly Jenny Lane, handing the visitors their first defeat.
Dave Duxbury, director of rugby at Baildon, said: “It showed the spirit within the group. We worked really hard and had a few bodies back - Nathan Buckle and Grant Nunney after injury, plus Will Eastell and Paul Blakey from their little period at Otley, and they all had an influence on the game.
“Our start was exactly the opposite to the previous week, where we scored in the first 30 seconds, but they believe in what they are doing and we have some really good players." “If we get on the pitch week in, week out we will cause everyone in this league problems - even Sheffield II away, who we caused a lot of problems to the other week." “It is still very young in the season and there is a long, long way to go, and let’s see what we come up with at Sheffield Tigers II next week and the big one the week after (Bradford & Bingley at home)."
As for what Baildon did well against their Leeds opponents, Duxbury said: “When we got into our processes and structures, which is what all coaches say, we were outstanding because they (Roundhegians) played a fluid game and moved the ball about, but we stopped them doing that."
“When we broke away from that that allowed them to play their game and they got a roll on and scored points, so it is about keeping your shape and trusting your processes.” As for what Baildon could have done better, Duxbury said: “Discipline - managing the referee better, especially when fatigue sets in and we made it difficult for ourselves in the last 30 minutes, but that is a learning curve.”
With six minutes left on the running clock and Baildon 21-19 ahead they opted to kick for touch in a bid to score a try rather than having a shot at goal from in front of the posts, which would have taken away the opportunity for Hegians to win the game with a penalty.
Duxbury explained: “We trust our line-out, which has been good, and we trust our building phase, but you cannot coach the way that we defended.
“That is just something within the lads - the way that they are flying off the line in the 79th minute to hit anything that moves in the opposition. There will be a few sore bodies among us after that effort.”
Duxbury added: “Jake (his son) might be back next month after doing his ACL 12 months ago and he is as fit as he has ever been and it will be a bonus to have him, but the way that the lads are playing realistically he will have to work hard to get in the team."
“We will finish this season where we deserve to finish, but if we can pick off the usual Yorkshire Two teams we will see where it gets us, but Sheffield II and Heath II will be a real challenge.”
As for what he thinks of bringing in second and third teams into the league structure, Duxbury confessed: “I supported it and still support it, but they may have got some of the seedings wrong in Yorkshire One and it will take three or four seasons for it to level out, but we are dinosaurs in Yorkshire and we don’t do change.”
Roundhegians kicked off uphill and Baildon knocked on the kick off and found themselves 7-0 down in quick time, centre Himoonga Miyambo making good ground for full back Ollie Batchelor to go over in the right corner, fly half Ewan Taylor missing the difficult conversion.
Baildon’s response was swift, however, winning a penalty in the fourth minute, kicking for touch in the right-hand corner and winning the line-out for Blakey to be pushed over the whitewash, Connor Parnell - playing out of position at fly half - adding a sweetly-struck conversion.
Hegians then missed a decent attacking opportunity by throwing the ball into touch on the left, but the hosts then showed good continuity for lock Oscar Robinson to score a try in the 17th minute, Parnell’s conversion making the score 14-5.
Having kicked that conversion from near the left wing, Parnell then missed a shot from in front of the posts six minutes later, while the visitors could then make nothing from a break by lock Joe Taylor.
Hegians did, however, survive the sin-binning of No 8 Ieuan Applebee for a high tackle without conceding any points, Baildon losing centre Jonty Glendinning injured to a “stinger” on the shoulder just before half-time.
Visiting skipper Jacob Babirecki was yellow carded for not releasing a tackler five minutes into the second half, and Baildon swiftly made Hegians pay for the loss of their hooker, centre Oliver Shakeshaft scoring for Parnell to convert.
Leading 21-5, Baildon then let the visitors back into the game when their full back Ben Shaw took too long to clear, his kick being charged down by flanker Luke Allen, who pounced on the loose ball to score a try in the 49th minute, Ewan Taylor’s conversion making the score 21-12.
Babirecki then caught out Baildon 17 minutes later, scoring himself from a tap and go, the conversion narrowing the margin to two points.
Baildon were largely on defensive chores for most of the second half, apart from turning down that penalty opportunity with six minutes left and being held up over the line in the 79th minute, but they showed great tenacity to hold out.
With Heath II and Sheffield II on a maximum 20 points after four matches, the Jenny Laners are fifth in the table - one place behind Roundhegians - ahead of a trip to second-from-bottom Sheffield Tigers II.
But on the horizon is Baildon’s much-anticipated home derby with Bradford & Bingley a week on Saturday, the Bees winning 55-26 at home to Sheffield Tigers II at the weekend.
Bradford & Bingley, who are sixth, two points behind Baildon, host eighth-placed Wheatley Hills this weekend.
By Bill Marshall
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