Baildon RUFC

A few seasons ago, if it weren’t for Airebronians denying Bramley Phoenix a losing bonus point with the last kick of the match, Baildon would have been playing rugby in Yorkshire Four. Every club recognises the cycle where you are rebuilding a team, maybe hit by injuries or simply struggling to find a win. Airebronians are a great club with good infrastructure, a sound strategy and a healthy pipeline of young players coming through the age grade section. They have legendary characters: a fabulous coach in Si Davies, the wonderful Jim Chapman who does so much for Yorkshire Rugby and the magnificent Paul Exley who is an enthusiastic supporter of the Bumbles Mixed Ability Rugby Team.  You know that Airebronians will come good but they are going through one of those difficult periods.

Yorkshire Three is competitive, on their day any side could beat any other team in the league. So when Baildon kicked off into a stiff breeze and glaring sun then put the ball straight into touch, you wondered if heads were on. This thought was compounded by the sight of James Fox wearing a scrum cap/toupee after some particularly wounding observations from last week’s opposition, several players struggling to walk because of the weight of gold coinage in their rugby short pockets and others who looked like they might fail the concussion screening question “who did we play last week?”

Your intrepid investigative reporter can also reveal that there was a whip round for a bus fare to Keighley which came up woefully short, though not as woefully short as the Baildon bar is reputed to be for barrels of beer in its misunderstanding of the scope of the “Dry January” campaign.  

It was a James “Bus Pass” Fox line out steal that sparked Baildon’s first promising attack. Will Chinny Tomlinson and Dan “Lothario” Cookson drove the ball in, quick hands from Matt “Wonky Legs” Dixon, Ollie Shakeshaft, Luke “Hamstring” Strauss and Ollie Goode found space. The Aire defence was more than up to the examination and held firm.

For all the attractive running rugby that Baildon played in the first ten minutes, the breakthrough came when Luke Strauss picked up at the base of a ruck metres out, dummied and tripped/fell across the try line. (5-0)  

Tom “Rachael Likes Stories About Unicorns and Dinosaurs” Massey made a break from the restart supported by Chinny Tomlinson and Ollie Shakeshaft. This set up promising field positon for James “Metro Day-Saver” Fox to burst from the line out linking with James O’Ryan and Josh “Crazy Legs” Strauss.  Matty Dixon looked like he was in but one of his unfeasibly bendy legs strayed into touch and was spotted by the eagle-eyed Tony “Don’t Mention Me in the Match Report My Wife Doesn’t Know I’m Doing This” Little who was rolling back the years running the touch line. (Unless of course Mrs Little is reading this match report, in which case none of this actually happened – ask anyone, I make all this stuff up.)

When Ollie Shakeshaft got beyond defenders Ollie Goode was in with a ridiculous “swan dive” that only served to highlight the pathetic nature of Luke Strauss’s earlier belly-flop. (10-0)

Aire kicked deep at the restart, using the wind to peg Baildon back. Matt Dixon hypnotised would be defenders with his whirling double jointed limbs and gyrated 70 metres down the park. George Morris cantered in support and looked like he would have the legs to make it, but generously gave the scoring pass to Ollie Goode who was in for his second and Baildon’s third under the posts. Jake Duxbury added the extras. (17-0)

Pete Lowth was loitering on the wing the way that props sometimes do and when the ball came to him in space, set off in a way that props normally don’t. Just as Pete Lowth was beginning to gasp and regret his positional naivety Matty Dixon was there to take the pass and dot down in the corner for the bonus point try. (22-0)  

As half time approached it looked like the visitors might get some reward. Good Aire pressure, ball retention and fluid progression through the phases was undone with a turnover. Josh Strauss made the break, Jake Duxbury took the ball on and Ollie Shakeshaft crossed. (27-0 HT)

Playing with the wind at their backs, Baildon were able to play most of the second half in Aire territory. A wrap around move saw Luke “Needs Diving Lessons” Strauss in at the corner. Converted Jake Duxbury. (34-0)

Good Baildon defensive pressure made Aire force their off loads. Ollie Shakeshaft intercepted. Jake Duxbury converted. (41-0)

More great work saw Baildon’s backs queuing up, it was Ollie Goode who crossed for his hat-trick meaning he was on for buying a jug (provided there was any beer left in Baildon’s parsimonious bar). Converted Jake Duxbury. (48-0)

When Ollie Shakeshaft intercepted again, he was surely in. As the try line approached he slowed looking for support; nay begging, pleading for support. It appears that Shakeshaft was troubled at the prospect of buying a jug for his hat-trick after he had spent up making an especially generous donation to the James Fox bus fare fund. Reluctantly, Shakeshaft dotted down. Converted Jake Duxbury. (55-0)

A Chinny Tomlinson yellow card came after fair warning about tackle height.

Jake Duxbury looked to be over but was held up inches short by an Aire defence that had kept going all afternoon. Although Aire were awarded the scrum the visitors eschewed safety and showed endeavour trying to run the ball out of their own 22. They didn’t count on meeting with Baildon’s famous parrot fancier Danny Pollard who stripped the ball and wriggled over. Converted Jake Duxbury with his best kick of the match. (62-0 FT)

Many thanks to both teams, both sets of supporters, volunteers, coaches and match officials. Our referee showed a great feel for the game, communicated well and showed good regard for player welfare throughout.

I’ve said it before. Adversity reveals character. The way that Aire stuck to playing, kept going and did not give up reveals great spirit. Sometimes, in life, we just have to keep going and trust that the good times will come.