groundhopper

Just back from the Germany Malta game My 8 year old son loves trains and took him to the Ruhr to watch German trains over a long weekend staying in Wuppertal which has an amazing tram system. I told the wife I might get some sport in whilst away but for some reason she fins it hard to believe the weekend coincided with football at ex Bundesliga SV Wuppertal who are now in I believe the equivalent of division 5 but there are 13 or 14 of these and an RL international. She is suggesting I may have form in this regard. A promise to take her to Italy in 3 weeks has made up for this and the weekend coincides with Italy v Czech republic. Thought it best to tell her in advance rather than pretend a further coincidence. I havn't seen League Express to see if they have any comments on the match but Germany took a significant lead first 6 0 then 6 6 after 10 22 6 after 28 and 22 12 at half time The second half started similarly and we were 28 12 after 43. Malta then scored 3 and converted 2 in the 53rd 57th and 67 mins and scored a drop goal to lead for the first time about 3 from the end. Other than the bare facts I cannot do match reports to add substance and never saw a team sheet. I also have to admit that whist there were German Exiles in the squad, I have no idea where the Maltese players came from. The match was played in Hattingen, a town of about 50,000 people at the end of a train line from Essen and a tram to Bochum, we did both. It's a lovely place with an partly timber housed old town but I don't understand the venues for all these internationals. There are obviously cost issues and maybe some players come form here but it is equivalent to us playing an international in say Gainsborough or Hertford. The matches in the rest of the series seem to be in similar towns. I have limited German and the venue was 2 to 3 miles from the station with the most roundabout bus route and took a taxi there to play safe. 11 Euros just to get in. Back by bus with no one else from the match onboard. I saw no posters even at the stadium. Stadium is an exaggeration it had a running track possibly no longer used. There was eight steps of terracing of earth with concrete block steps on one side and four opposite but vehicles parked on the track and and a marquee restricted the view from here. in case it looks like my son was neglected we managed a total of 36 journeys by train S bahn U bahn and tram during the holiday not counting a preserved railway near Essen and a miniature train gala at Leverkusen. I have previously seen World Cup in Serbia and an international in Czech republic at similar basic venue and crowds were below 100. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to see nearly 200 in the ground half an hour before kick off and a queue across the car park. I would estimate the attendance as 600 plus.

Bridgend RU are installing a 4G pitch at the Brewery Field early in 2027 and are looking to play away for a number of months. Assume, although not sure why I should, that NWC and RL are aware

Just back from this with trains on tine. the scoring went 0 6 then 6 6 and 18 8 at half time then 18 38 witth Scotland scoring two late converted tries for 30 38. Game not a high standard but no lack of effort an it should be realised the majority of the players have played no more than 4 or 5 games and possibly only one or two. No criticism there. However the Scottish RL did not appear to exist. I'm not talking of coaches etc but off field. I could not initially find the entrance and walked in through a side gate. No gate was taken and not expecting a prog or merchandise, I was not disappointed. However the match was preceded by the national anthems, sung with enthusiasm by the teams but with no music of any sort. There was no team sheet or tannoy. I can see why Edinburgh Eagles may feel they have limited if any support Crowd was 50 to 60 with half from Ireland In fairness Edinburgh is in the middle if festival season so many other attractions. I am noy sure I have seen a city centre so full. crossing a road was difficult and I have never seen so many divers just beeping horns so agressively. Match played at Edinburgh Accies ground with a possibly condemned stand in the wrong place and a smaller replacement one with players standing in front making viewing difficult Return fixture in 2 weeks at the Garda Ground some way out of Dublin

Would love to do this game Looking at possible ways but staying in Edinburgh not affordable. So I have a Scotland international, when they cant find two teams for the grand final and 5 hours each way on Cross Country trains. Difficult to see how anything could go wrong.

Was able to attend the Keighley v Dewsbury match and there was nothing shambolic about the matchday experience and in fairness to cougars they acted once it was clear that their usual ground was unfit. I heard different opinions as to what happened to the pitch but the general view was that it in a terrible state. The general view is that it Ideally it needs heavy rain and rolling so problems may persist. The Union ground was ok for a one off game but is about 2 miles from the centre. it is typical RU with facilities based on the clubhouse. The pitch is 4g and one of a number where the RU provided the pitch and surrounds and at pitch level is identical to Bournvillle for Hurricanes and also others including North Bristol which all golds used and Derby which hosted a one off Hurricanes game. There is a small stand with poor views as set back and lacking in height. The game was dominated by the visitors, slightly more than the scoreline suggested. I would estimate the crowd as slightly below 500 which I doubt is much less than a normal game especially in midweek. I was with a Sheffield based fan I know for part of the game and he pointed out to me there had been no scrums during the match. He has been to far more matches than me and said he had never seen this before

After a few weeks of revisits or no game due to so many being postponed, the match I was hoping to do showed up on the home clubs facebook late last night so off to Bridgend Blue Bulls 40 Rhondda Outlaws 28 There are now only 4 clubs at open age in South Wales although the game is doing reasonably well at youth level although there is a complaint that clubs develop players and then the national side takes them and restricts the use by the local club Aberavon Fighting irish and South Wales Jets are now the top 2 and I heard it suggested today these pay there best players but I am not sure to what purpose if they do. Today's match was at Cefn Criwbr about 5 miles from Bridgend but nearer that their previous homes of Pyle and before that Portcawl. There is a level three football ground with stand with two other pitches, one rugby and at a higher level the Rugby Ground railed on two sides with a nice clubhouse behind one end. The ground has been cut of a hillside so there is a steep bank one one side, too overgrown to easily climb but a path with a number of benches at the top. With temperatures of about 25 degrees and a nice scenic view this was a perfect spot to sit. I spent the first half chatting to a parent whose son being under 18 cannot play senior RU but can play open age RL The visitors had a squad of 20 the hosts only 15 Rhondda scored first after 3 mins and we were at 10 6 within 10 mins of the start. Half time was 22 17 with the last point being a long drop goal from 40 yards. a further drop goal was converted at 34 27. One let along two in an amateur game is rare. Final score was 40 28 It should be added the match was refereed by one of the visitors coaches and all decisions were accepted in the good spirit the game was played in. I think there are 5 or 6 grounds left I have not visited but most are clubs that have suffered with many visitors not travelling As we get nearer the start of RU training, this is unlikely to improve outside the heatlands. I have not checked the open age results today but with this mostly being a cup weekend, I suspect the number postponed with be depressing

A new low has been reached with Super League grading scores. Huddersfield would be heading out of the top flight under normal circumstances. However I read in League Express that they have increased their grading score because they have better advertising boards than before. It is not April 1 but this has given their score a boost. Farcical even before consideration is given to the fact they are unlikely to be playing on the ground next season.

Hullensians 26 Myton A 36 This is an odd one, Hullensians stated om facebook there as their first ever game, although a similar comment was made 2 weeks ago and I assume that game was cancelled. This sort of thing happens in Amateur RL but I cannot see any other games scheduled. Initial thoughts was going to be no more than the RU side keeping fit and the only on line presence was on the RU clubs website. There was however a Masters RL game first and the match was a Merit league fixture. However the standard was higher both these sides would have scored a hundred plus against the two teams viewed last Friday. Normally when RU players play their first game, there will be one or two who following a knock on by the opposition race to the ball and just kick upfield as far as possible or kick early in the tackle count into touch. This was not the case, everyone seemed experienced in RL and I assume this is the difference between living in Hull and Derbyshire. The scoreline at half time flattered the hosts who went in eight down despite being outplayed. With one of their number sent off just before the interval. I commented to one of our travelling party they would tire and with the extra man would win by a considerable margin. As is often the case I could not have been more wrong. the eight point margin was pulled back and Hullensians went 24 22 ahead although the lead was brief. I liked the ground with two pitches a clubhouse and a small stand seating a 100 at most on the far side. The number of clubs in Hull shrunk considerably in recent years and whilst this may grow, it is a pity that even in an RL mad city, it is RU clubs with not just Hullensians but also Hessle who host Hull Knights being involved in new teams for 2026.

I think I first posted Where Did You go about 4 or 5 years ago with the aim of encouraging people to go and watch Pennine League games when it was struggling. Initially a few others posted but it has become where did I go. So a question has anyone been encouraged to attend a game as a result of this thread? If not then please consider it, there are some great games out there and if you live in say Leeds and my age you have access to a bus pass you have up to 3O clubs within reach for a free day out. Anyway one more from me. There were few games yesterday for obvious reasons but these included Methley Warriors 16 Crigglestone All Blacks 36 in the Yorkshire Shield. I had been to Methley twice before, one at what was marked as Castleford's training ground against Queens and then at this location for a National Cup Semi Final. I must admit to not remembering the ground well and the changing rooms etc may well be new. iI is possible the pitch has been turned round There were junior games taking place on arrival and one of there was still ongoing on the main pitch at the scheduled 1230 start. I think the all blacks were the visitors in that as well. This may have contributed to a crowd of almost 200 at the start, most of whom stayed for the whole 80 mins. Similar to the day before, the game was fairly equal for much of the first half before the visitors took control

North Midlands Knights 28 Chesterfield Forgers 70 Friday night game between 2 relatively new sides. Chesterfield split from Sheffield Forgers who still run teams at the lower junior levels whilst Knights are new this year. The sides have taken different paths regarding fixtures and are both in the Midlands Merit league which means you arranged your own fixtures choosing by distance. Matches are normally fulfilled as failure to travel away matches results in fixtures becoming hard to arrange. Chesterfield have only four schedules fixtures, home and away against Knights and Nottingham A whilst Knights have a match almost every week and travel furhter. There is a history of RL in the area going back many years, certainly when the game was played in winter. Mansfield drew big crowds at first until evicted by the football club and forced to move around too much. The played in Alfreton and Kirby in Ashfield both only two miles from Knight's ground. I expected little in the way of facilities and was delighted to find these were better than expected. At some stage in the past a cricket pitch was laid out and the area levelled. They appear to have folded but one can sit an a bench on a tiered bank with the pitch below and views into the countryside. The grounds are open to the public. The changing room block has Knights signage and includes a food and drinks bar, albeit not selling alcahol. The Knights team appears to be mostly new to the game but with no RU team locally appear to be primarily new to any form of Rugby. This showed at times during an equally matched first half which finished 18 16 but more so in the second half when there was some very tired tackling. The kicking was particularly poor with many conversions missed from directly in front of the posts with an inability to lift the ball particularly visible. Evenso these are teams with the potential to grow and bring new players into the game without the need to have to travel long distances every week to find opposition. On a sunny evening the temperature remined warm even in the shade until the 9 oclock finish. I accept few would agree with me but I enjoy a match and location like this more than the Cup Final and now checking if any games will be on today and this level.

Decided to post this here as no Sheffield Eagles thread and the Broncos one is more about their plans so Sheffield Eagles 10 London Broncos 72 guessed attendance 650/700 maybe 50 with the visitors This was the first game at Sheffield FC for the Eagles and the plan is this will be their home at least in the medium term. The match was probably even more one sided than expected. I don't feel qualified to comment on tactics etc but whilst Broncos did not show much flair, they were highly professional and it was there offloading, probably of the highest quality I have seen that led to so many of the points. The ground is slightly disappointing. My only previous visit was in the 1970's for football when the home club were Norton Woodseats long before Sheffield FC moved in. There is a pub at road level, one well known for it's range of real ale but none was available today and there appeared to be no customers other than Eagles Fans. this included changing rooms at the time The ground is up a slight slope and has an entrance in one corner. There is a small stand and covered terracing on ne side and a further seated area behind the posts The view form here is terrible due to a constant flow of people across the front. One side is fenced off and there is little height to any of the facilities. The site is cramped and I feel the capacity of 2000 might be uncomfortable. I can think of three grounds which are worse but there is nothing to give the boost a ground move can give. Car parking is £5, not unusual but enough to send me on a 10 minute walk. I fully understand the reason for moving from the Olympic Park. There is a bus back to Sheffield about half an hour after the game but on leaving, there were far more walking back towards the station that waiting for the bus. This was my eight home ground for Eagles but a fan who accompanied me to Quantums yesterday reckoned there have been 21.

Staffordshire Quantums 46 Leamington Royals 36 At Wednesbury RU Quantums are based in Rugeley but as a club set up in any area with no history of RL have tried to include many local clubs. Rather than sign players mostly from their own club they play one or two matches elsewhere to spread the game. Certainly from a groundhoppers point of view, this is great. Todays venue was their fifty venue at least and probably over 10 miles from their 'home' The reason for the choice of venue was to add to the entertainment at the host RU clubs Presidemts Day and to be honest the day was little more than 2 Rugby matches, one of each code. Thankfully I did not take my son who is hopefully enjoying Llandudno with his mum and friends as the bouncy castle which was the highlight for kids was not visible. Wednesbury RU have a single claim to fame, their posts which are the tallest in Rugby at 125 feet and they do look to be at least four times as high as many. The match was in the Midlands League's merit division and some clubs including Quantums play most weeks others occasionally. The visitors were stalwarts of the top division but struggles for numbers last year but had over 20 today. Games at this level can be high scoring and Quantums who were ahead for all but a few minutes won 48 36

Beverley 12 Dudley Hill 16 Yorkshire Conference Beverley have moved grounds this season and are using the pitches previously used by Beverley Braves, the towns youth sides. I liked there quirky old ground with a balcony which never looked entirely safe and before that there were on a multi sports ground which is till used by the football club. I was reasonably pleased to see a new ground for this year as no excuse is needed to visit what is one of England's best cities. Like a small version of York but with locals not tourists The ground is a little out of town to the North East and has been developed with portacabins. It all looks a bit basic at first and the site is open to the public. There is however potential and they already have a small bar, sell snacks etc. Beverley went into the game with 5 wins and a draw from 8 and Dudley Hill in the lower half of the table. The visitors were quickly 10 up before tries were denied for the hosts due to a forward pass and the ball being held up after 6 10 then 6 16, Beverley pulled the deficit back to 4 points with 15 to go but could not get the break through in what was overall a tight game with not many chances. Would have been a thoroughly enjoyable day until I shredded a tyre near the M62 and it became an expensive one

May 9 2026 Bristol All Golds 24 Brentwood 12 First RL match for 3 weeks and the same team at home, albeit a different home. Credit to All Golds in that the change to the venue were posted along with the fixture list prior to the season commencing and as always a one off venue appals to me. there must be numerous I never become aware of. The venue is the wonderfully names Combe Dingle, owned by Clifton High School but run by Bristol University. On arrival two cricket matches had commenced and the RL sides were warming up. The ground is a basic cage but there is a new changing block and a bar elsewhere on site. All Golds have had a difficult start to the season and for 15 minutes, it looked like a further defeat would follow and they were 4 0 down. there were then two tries for All Golds disallowed for forward passes before they scored. From then on they looked the better side and the scoreline was fair on the balance of play. Prior to attendance, I had the opportunity to exchange emails with Styx who posted above and he kindly took time out of a busy schedule in being one of those organising match day and much more. Although I report on what I see, there is so much more to most of the clubs I visit and I was delighted to hear that All Golds are running many junior sides despite the distance required to be travelled, just to get opposition. There was a thriving league in the South West but neglect from our rulers who appear to have no interest in this level has resulted in it's collapse along with the North East. A pleasure to meet you, Styx.

All Golds 34 Bedford 50 Interesting scoring pattern it this we had Bedford 28 4 before All Golds got back to level at 28 all before Bedford pulled away for the final score above. Unsure why this was a Sunday, maybe availability for dual code players but the venue seems heavily used. This was played at Lockleaze Leisure Centre in North Bristol which as three pitches, the main on is 4g. Although it is possible to watch at pitchside on one side, the approved viewing area is a balcony from the cafe bar running for about half the length of one side. All Golds had played one previous game and conceded a similar amount of points so will need to improve the defence. Bedford's first game against Hemel was rearranged for May by mutual consent. i enjoy matches in this league but based on past experience as well as today's game, it is of lower standard then Yorkshire B, I saw last week at Newcastle