BARLA Bulldogs Over 35’s Amsterdam 2014
The BARLA representative team returned from their second tilt at the prestigious Amsterdam sevens weekend with mixed emotions. Delighted that they had taken on the best the veterans could throw at them at their own game and reaching the final in front of several thousand but disappointment that they were unable to finish the job off by winning the trophy.
The teams involved contained some of the cream of the other code packed with a host of former international players from all four home nations but also from Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa, added to these were players with experience of RL such as Brad Hepi and Lesley Vainakolo.
Many of the BARLA men had never played rugby union before the opening day and thus were greatly disadvantaged in coping not only with the set pieces of line outs and scrums but also the ruck and maul lottery
Coached by Barrow Island stalwart Paul Dean and Shaw Cross, Steve Jones the team got off to a slow start against last year’s finalists Millfield Old Boys but rustiness and timing ensured that the Bulldogs bombed 3 early chances before Mike Ward (Woolston) dummied his way through to feed the impressive Robbie Shaw (East Hull) who drew the cover before releasing speedster Steve Morton (Queens) who finished the move. 5-0 In the second half Andy McClure (Roose) provided the strength and speed on a powerful run allowing skipper Kieron Kavanagh (Halton Simms Cross) a clear run to the line which he converted 12-0. The scoring was complete when Steve Perry (Roose) turned over possession from Millfield with a powerful but typical rugby league tackle, Simon Owen (Wyke) followed by Andy Burland (Shaw Cross) made the hard yards allowing Kavanagh to stroll under the post again adding the 2 points making the score 19-0 Millfield replied with a well taken try but the tie was settled 19-5
The second group match was against southern team Sutton & Epsom Dodos who had obviously done their homework and who were happy to scrum, line out and roll the maul for the full match if allowed, but strong defence and power tackling ensured enough ball for the BARLA athleticism to prevail as Perry created space for Neil Babbs(Blackbrook) followed by livewire Shaw who in turn fed Morton who scored giving Kavanagh the easy drop kick conversion 7-0, Morton completed the scoring when scooping up a loose ball created by a massive hit from Craig McKinnon 12-0
In the second half whilst a lesson in boredom the Bulldogs defended very well but were unable to get any possession, so the match petered out at 12-0 though there was a distasteful incident as Mike Ward received an ugly stamp to his face that resulted in him playing no part in the rest of the competition that day
Last up in the first day’s group stages were the ex- international Dutch Team playing under the title of Old Ja Meesters and who were also unbeaten. BARLA were not surprised to be given a really tough game by this team who were obviously very well prepared by their specialist New Zealand professional sevens coach and well supported by the home crowd. BARLA looked to have opened the scoring as Shaw made a cheeky run down the blindside only to be held just short of the line. This prove the be the diminutive scrum half’s last effort as he limped out of the competition with a pulled calf muscle. It was Ian Ward (Rylands) though that opened the account as he finished a smooth passing movement with a fine try converted expertly by Cumbrian Dave Wynne.
At this point 2 incidents occurred that were to have a profound effect on the match as first Matty Walker (Shaw Cross) was very harshly and controversially sin binned for a shoulder tackle and the crowd influenced the referee to prevent Steve Morton from being reintroduced to the field following a well-deserved rest. Protests that the Bulldogs had checked the interpretation of the substitution rules with the officials were ignored and BARLA were left short of players.
The Meesters were quick to take advantage and scored twice either side of half time with no conversion 7-10, even then despite a heavy penalty count BARLA looked to have won the contest as in the last minute Burland released Perry who arguably could have scored but who gave a good pass to the supporting Wynne, unfortunately and inexplicably for him, he couldn’t take to pass with the line at his mercy and the game was lost, to the delight of the Dutch who won the group.

On the second day a battered and bruised Bulldogs were in the quarter final group stage with 2 games to play before a possible semi-final, however injuries were taking their toll despite the great efforts by Physio Richard Sedgwick (Thornhill) to keep the boys going, and the management team having to draft in Coach Paul Dean and Asst Manager Chris Parr to play. The squad demonstrated their fortitude, courage and team spirit though against a strong Dutch Rugby Veterans team though as both sides exchanged tries early in the game Perry dislodging the ball with a fine hit and releasing the powerful McClure who supplied the finish, con by Kavanagh to make the half time score 7-7
Dutch Vets took the lead with a try 14-7 before kicking long to Morton who produced what must have been the try of the tournament as he went across from under his own posts before straightening and outpacing the whole Dutch team on a swerving run the entire length of the pitch. Perry coolly added the kick to equalise the score. 14-14
Perry seemed then to have won the match as he took a deft pass to go clear but tiring legs would just not take him the last few metres over the line and the chance was gone 14-14
The Bulldogs then embarked on a tough encounter with a very physical and typically flamboyant Pacific Island team, The Pacific Chiefs, and were first to score as a long but accurate kick from Kevin Hetherington followed by an excellent chase and good passing from Wynne and Burland gave Matty Walker the chance which he duly took 5-0. Neil Babbs then turned provider as he supplied McClure the opportunity to score again in the corner 10-0 and although an error gave the chiefs a chance back in the game the win was achieved 10-0 although BARLA lost yet another 2 players in Ian Ward and Paul Sebine (Hunslet Warriors) through injury.
The results meant that to go through the Dutch Vets had to beat the Chiefs by more than 2 tries but with a score of 5-0 it wasn’t enough leaving BARLA the winners of the group based on points difference (equal) followed by tries scored.
A very difficult semi-final followed against Rugby4 Heroes a side made up of mainly Gloucester/Bristol/Bath players with an excellent pedigree and including former All Gold coach, Hull and Wake League man Brad Hepi. Running on very near empty and having to recruit a couple of replacements from the Dutch Vets in Harold and Pim, BARLA produced a vintage performance of continually harassing the opposition backed by tough tackling and strong running Morton again demonstrating his pace with a try and one from guest player Pim to one from Heroes 12-5 before late in the second half the redoubtable Paul Dean supplied the final pass to a rampaging Chris Parr supporting on the inside who then strode remarkably and imperiously the last 40m to hurtle under the posts and BARLA were in the final.
In front of several thousand people in the main arena at the Dutch National Rugby Stadium it proved just a step too far for the visibly exhausted BARLA team. Morton for the first time in the tournament was caught just before scoring which allowed the former Dutch International team The Meesters including several fresh players from the ones that had played BARLA the day before scored 2 tries to take a 12-0 lead. The second guest player Harold ran an excellent line against his fellow countrymen to claw a score back c by Kavanagh with 2 minutes on the clock 12-7 but a quick line out attempt on their own line by Kavanagh was a disaster which let Meesters pounce on a loose ball to finish off the Bulldogs and emerge as worthy winners. 19-7
Manager Martyn Ward summed it up by saying “we took them on, on their own ground at their own game, despite alien concepts, alien rules and sometimes alien refs, most of our squad having never played a game of union in their lives and came within a whisker of winning it. The hundreds of players and the thousands of spectators were to a man and woman talking about their admiration of the skill, fitness, toughness and attitude displayed by the players from our Amateur game and the game of Rugby League as a whole. They are terrified that we might work out their unit “skills” and get more ball, cos they know they would be in trouble then. If that display over the last 2 days wasn’t an excellent advertisement for our game then I don’t know what is”
Just to remind everyone who wants to have a go the Over 35’s International squad is picked from the tri county series each year for their annual foray to Dubai in early December. This year is on Saturday the 26th July and obviously is between Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria and this time is in Cumbria.
Each County will be sorting out their squads and will want any player who meets the criteria and wants selection to get in touch. I am sure each County will be sending out a press release but players who wish to participate should get in touch with their respective county committee/manager
Jon Taylor – Yorkshire –email jtwinger2@hotmail.co.uk
Paul Dean/Sean High Cumbria– email seanhigh@hotmail.co.uk Paul.Dean@firstgroup.com
Sean Richardson/ Chris Parr Lancashire- email seanricho1@hotmail.com chrisparr@cpecltd.co.uk

Eligibility is
1. Over 35 by 31st November 2014
2. Signed on and available for selection with an amateur club
3. If ex-professional must have been back with an amateur club and signed off professional contract for 3 years