Where did you go 2026

[groundhopper]

Time to restart this

Apart from Banbridge Broncos there has been little for me other than Hurricanes games and London Broncos at Richmond and Hazelwood covered by others better than I could. Health and wealth issues have restricted my travel  until yesterday.

This was my 600 different ground/ pitch, the reality is probably 598 or 601 but that's as near as i will get.

So Newcastle Lightning 10 Toll Bar 38

The Newcastle situation is in my view a positive, there was a risk of losing any presence in the year until York assisted Thunder to continue. The new entity has done well on the field and lightning was set up for those players previously at Thunder and Uni players from Northumbria Uni. They are the winners of the 25/26 BUCS championship and their reserves won the lower level competition. I would say more have come through the university route.

The venue is at Northumbria's Coach Lane Campus about 10 mins from Four Lane Ends Metro but easier to access by Stagecoach number 1 bus from the city which terminates in the car park of the Campus. 

Facilities are good for Yorkshire Premier with cover including 100 plus seats but nothing off the field apart from vending machines. The visitors came by coach and some unimpressed by a Rugby Club without a bar. 

I refer to Toll Bar as that is what everyone knows them as and where they play but they seem to have rebranded as Doncaster ARL and they are now the only amateur team in the borough apart from Thorne who appear to just be playing in the merit league.

Toll Bar dominated the first half and went 20 up before the uni scored either side of half time to make it 10 20. Toll Bar then pulled away. 

There was no admission charge and the crowd was c35 mostly with the visitors but rose to c60

The ground is marked for football and RU not RL. Unusually the pitches are marked different sizes with Rugby being one meter bigger all round which means the clearly defined white line is not the touchline.

Enjoyable trip and hopefully a few more over the next few weeks 

   

[Hopping Mad]

9 minutes ago, groundhopper said:

I refer to Toll Bar as that is what everyone knows them as and where they play but they seem to have rebranded as Doncaster ARL and they are now the only amateur team in the borough apart from Thorne who appear to just be playing in the merit league.

Bentley?

[Rene_Artois]

42 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

Bentley?

Thank you! Big oversight that. Bentley have been strongest club in the area for a while. Very good junior set up.

[Anita Bath]

Ipswich Jets 18 Burleigh Bears 16 in QRL Hostplus cup ( A grade).

 

This was a top of the table clash played at Woogaroo Field at Goodna. Ipswich playing all their homes games at Goodna this season as the North Ipswich reserve is being renovated with a 2000 seat grandstand being built.

Goodna is an eastern suburb of ipswich on the Brisbane to Ipswich train line, 40 minute train ride from Brisbane CBD. The ground is a short (10 minute) walk from the station through parkland. Its a tidy little ground bordered on one side by the Brisbane river so I expect it gets flooded at times. There is a leagues club behind one set of posts with patio tables outside to watch the game and some benches along the river side. A big plus is the ample tree coverage offering shade for most areas of the ground for most of the game (it was a 3pm kick off in 34 degree celsius….a normal autumn day for Ipswich! There is no hill to watch the game from …the ground is on flat land.

There were water breaks in each half. $12 admission, $7 concessions which is standard rate for QRL. No programmes or teamsheets.

There was a healthy crowd with a sizeable Burleigh contingent.

Burleigh were without a couple of players called up by Broncos to help with their injury crisis. Ipswich, who are alligned with the Titans, had Moses Mbye playing hooker. He looked sharp. Ipswich were up 18-10 with 5 mins to go and managed to hold off a fierce Burleigh onslaught leaving them top of the ladder on PD from Cutters, Falcons and Tigers after 5 rounds.

[Hopping Mad]

3 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Ipswich Jets 18 Burleigh Bears 16 in QRL Hostplus cup ( A grade).

 

This was a top of the table clash played at Woogaroo Field at Goodna. Ipswich playing all their homes games at Goodna this season as the North Ipswich reserve is being renovated with a 2000 seat grandstand being built.

Goodna is an eastern suburb of ipswich on the Brisbane to Ipswich train line, 40 minute train ride from Brisbane CBD. The ground is a short (10 minute) walk from the station through parkland. Its a tidy little ground bordered on one side by the Brisbane river so I expect it gets flooded at times. There is a leagues club behind one set of posts with patio tables outside to watch the game and some benches along the river side. A big plus is the ample tree coverage offering shade for most areas of the ground for most of the game (it was a 3pm kick off in 34 degree celsius….a normal autumn day for Ipswich! There is no hill to watch the game from …the ground is on flat land.

There were water breaks in each half. $12 admission, $7 concessions which is standard rate for QRL. No programmes or teamsheets.

There was a healthy crowd with a sizeable Burleigh contingent.

Burleigh were without a couple of players called up by Broncos to help with their injury crisis. Ipswich, who are alligned with the Titans, had Moses Mbye playing hooker. He looked sharp. Ipswich were up 18-10 with 5 mins to go and managed to hold off a fierce Burleigh onslaught leaving them top of the ladder on PD from Cutters, Falcons and Tigers after 5 rounds.

My sister-in-law, an Australian, who lives down in Hampshire, hails from Ipswich. Prefers union, unfortunately (and is also - possibly inevitably - an unbearable snob). She has never mentioned Ipswich Jets, although I was aware of their existence. Thanks for the write-up. 

[Anita Bath]

1 hour ago, Hopping Mad said:

My sister-in-law, an Australian, who lives down in Hampshire, hails from Ipswich. Prefers union, unfortunately (and is also - possibly inevitably - an unbearable snob). She has never mentioned Ipswich Jets, although I was aware of their existence. Thanks for the write-up. 

A good friend of my partner is an ipswich girl...also a bit of a snob. I call her the duchess of ipswich....you can take the girl out of ipswich but you cannot take ipswich out of the girl

[groundhopper]

16 hours ago, Rene_Artois said:

Thank you! Big oversight that. Bentley have been strongest club in the area for a while. Very good junior set up.

Huge apologies here. It's not as if i wasn't aware of Bentley. I have seen them play at home at least 4 times including twice in the Challenge Cup, one against the Army  

[Rene_Artois]

1 hour ago, groundhopper said:

Huge apologies here. It's not as if i wasn't aware of Bentley. I have seen them play at home at least 4 times including twice in the Challenge Cup, one against the Army  

I was at the game against the Army. Decent crowd on the day.

[Eddie]

On 13/04/2026 at 09:34, Anita Bath said:

A good friend of my partner is an ipswich girl...also a bit of a snob. I call her the duchess of ipswich....you can take the girl out of ipswich but you cannot take ipswich out of the girl

The same applies in the English Ipswich! 

[groundhopper]

Just back from ground 601 Accrington Widlcats 16 Cadishead Rhinos 6

There are very few new teams in RL this summer so good to find one in the North West Mens, in area otherwise not covered. The nearest would be Rochdale or Chorley both 17 miles away

I say a new team but there has been sone junior development here for a number of years but for 2026 open age has been added. Juniors are schedules tomorrow for under 9 11 and 13's.They have joined the entry division but have a fixture list with matches most weeks.

The ground is outside Accrington at Clayton le Moors which was only 10 mins by bus.

The venue is Wilsons playing fields where a swimming pool, cafe etc have been built. All looks nice and tidy but if these facilities are mean to be disability inclusive, then a few pounds could have been spent on an access path to the RL pitch. With a wheelchair user in our group and the area boggy, it was only the efforts of the visiting players and coach who made access to the pitch surround possible. if you read this from Cadishead, you are a credit to your club especially assisting after a tough fixture.

The pitch is roped down oneside but there are no other facilities.

The match appeared to have no official ref, the person doing so was not in uniform and I assume a club official but did an excellent job, with a number of injuries holding things up. the last of these bringing the game to an early close with well over the minimum 65 mins gone.   

Another enjoyable day out with three trains and a bus each way running close to time.  

 

[Eddie]

3 hours ago, groundhopper said:

Just back from ground 601 Accrington Widlcats 16 Cadishead Rhinos 6

There are very few new teams in RL this summer so good to find one in the North West Mens, in area otherwise not covered. The nearest would be Rochdale or Chorley both 17 miles away

I say a new team but there has been sone junior development here for a number of years but for 2026 open age has been added. Juniors are schedules tomorrow for under 9 11 and 13's.They have joined the entry division but have a fixture list with matches most weeks.

The ground is outside Accrington at Clayton le Moors which was only 10 mins by bus.

The venue is Wilsons playing fields where a swimming pool, cafe etc have been built. All looks nice and tidy but if these facilities are mean to be disability inclusive, then a few pounds could have been spent on an access path to the RL pitch. With a wheelchair user in our group and the area boggy, it was only the efforts of the visiting players and coach who made access to the pitch surround possible. if you read this from Cadishead, you are a credit to your club especially assisting after a tough fixture.

The pitch is roped down oneside but there are no other facilities.

The match appeared to have no official ref, the person doing so was not in uniform and I assume a club official but did an excellent job, with a number of injuries holding things up. the last of these bringing the game to an early close with well over the minimum 65 mins gone.   

Another enjoyable day out with three trains and a bus each way running close to time.  

 

Thanks as always for the comments on your trip. Peterborough are a (kind of) new team this year as well, Deeping Ducks have moved. 

[Anita Bath]

western clydesdales 24 Souths Logan Magpies 34 at Toowoomba Sportsground.

 

A bottom of the table clash in Toowoomba. The Toowoomba Sports ground is a rugby field and a bowls club combined…a bit like Headingley with the grandstand on two sides. Its a very impressive grandstand…possibly the best in the QRL which is in the shade for afternoon games. Also seating along both sides of the ground and behind one set of posts but they are in the sun so most of the crowd populate the Grandstand. Admission $12 no programmes or teamshhets.

The stadium is across the road from Queens Park, home of the annual Toowoomba Flower Festival held every September (and worth a visit).

No daily train service from Brisbane but there are coach services which take just under 2 hours and cost around $35 each way. The coach times are very convenient for a 2pm kick off with the coach station being a 15 minute walk from the ground through Queens Park.

The clydesdales this season are coached by the Walker brothers but it hasnt changed their fortunes. four games, four losses going into this game v Souths who have been ravaged by Broncos call ups but still have Anthony Milford playing stand off and coached by Karmichael Hunt.

24-0 to clydesdales after 38 minutes…surely they must break their duck? Not so….a short drop out with only a minute of the first half left was won by Souths and resulted in a converted try…24-6 at the break. Then all one way traffic in the second half…helped by a straight sending off for a horrendous shoulder charge to the head of a souths player bringing the ball back from a kick off.

Of their 5 games played the Clydesdales have had a half time lead in three of them. 
Clydesdales have 24 years old Chris Woodbridge playing full back. He has won many awards playing in the regional leagues for Dalby as well as being a national champion boxer. This is his first time in the QRL and has had a very impressive start to the season. Scored two excellent tries and was a real live wire in the first half but faded in the second half. Might be worth keeping an eye on him nevertheless. There was a buzz around the ground every time he got the ball. I think he might be aboriginal though not 100% sure.

For anyone visiting SE Queensland Id recommend a trip to Toowoomba…a lovely small city, very walkable, lovely old buildings, plenty of history and the Cobb and Co heritage museum. It is on the edge of the central divide so built on an escarpment with stunning views and bushwalks.

[groundhopper]

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

 

[dboy]

On 18/04/2026 at 19:44, groundhopper said:

Just back from ground 601 Accrington Widlcats 16 Cadishead Rhinos 6

 

 

If Wakey had adopted the moniker "WiddleCats", I would have insisted they keep it rather than revert to just Trinity.

[Styx]

18 hours ago, groundhopper said:

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

 

A couple of points to clarify on what otherwise is a very fair reflection of the game. The match was played on Sunday due to the whole of LSC being booked out for an event on the Saturday. Bristol All Golds do have a few players that also play union, but have never rearranged a game because of that reason. Their previous game was away at Wests Warriors who as most are aware are one of the top two clubs in the league, and probably wider. Like most clubs have at some stage there were some unavailability issues last week, for example three players training with England Universities. Bedford's opening game was due to be North Herts Crusaders, not Hemel. Hemel are not in this league.

[groundhopper]

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.