Bleater's Blog
  1. The Season Run In
  2. It’s Six Nations Time!
  3. 2024 Has Arrived
  4. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  5. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  6. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  7. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  8. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  9. The Summer Break
  10. The Final Countdown
  11. The Summer Tours Up Next
  12. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  13. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  14. 2023 Has Arrived
  15. The Halfway Point of the Season
  16. The Season Continues into Autumn
  17. Here we go! A new season
  18. The Twilight Zone
  19. The Season is Nearly Over
  20. The Six Nations and Some
  21. The 6 Nations Begins
  22. 2022 and All THAT!
  23. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  24. We’re Still Waiting
  25. The Season Progresses
  26. At Last - We are back
  27. The New Season is Nearly Here
  28. Lions Tests are Here!
  29. The Lions Up next
  30. Now It’s Europe
  31. 6 Nations Beckons
  32. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  33. A New Premiership Season
  34. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  35. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  36. No End In Sight To The Madness
  37. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  38. We're Back - In Part At Least
  39. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  40. When will we play again?
  41. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  42. It's easing apparently???!!!
  43. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  44. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  45. The Debate Continues
  46. Yet another new page
  47. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  48. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  49. The Season Moves On
  50. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  51. 6 Nations Starts
  52. Another New Page - Sorry
  53. 6 Nations Beckons
  54. Welcome To A New Decade
  55. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  56. Xmas is Coming
  57. Back to the Grassroots Game
  58. Bleater in Japan
  59. The Grassroots Season Starts
  60. Not Long Now!
  61. Japan Still Beckons
  62. Japan Beckons
  63. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  64. The Summer Break is Here
  65. The Final Countdown
  66. Yet another section of drivel
  67. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  68. The 6 Nations Continues
  69. Six Nations and More
  70. It's RWC Year!!
  71. Its Definitely Winter
  72. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  73. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  74. We Are Off And Running
  75. The New Season Approaches
  76. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  77. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  78. The Season Climax Approaches
  79. Summer is Coming
  80. Another Section, More Drivel
  81. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  82. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  83. The Season Takes Shape
  84. The Season Starts
  85. More Pre-Season Build Up
  86. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  87. The Lions Tested
  88. The Lions Roar
  89. We Are Still Counting Down
  90. It's All About The Lions
  91. The Countdown to Season's End
  92. The Season Continues Apace
  93. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  94. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  95. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  96. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  97. It's Time For Europe
  98. The Season Is Well Underway
  99. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  100. Not Long to the New Season
  101. Not So Much Rugby Now
  102. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  103. The Summer Break
  104. Here Comes Summer
  105. They Think It's All Over
  106. Jones - A New Era
  107. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  108. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  109. Six Nations 2016
  110. A New Captain, A New Start
  111. Welcome to 2016
  112. The Countdown to Christmas
  113. Winter Has Arrived
  114. November Movember
  115. The World Cup Is Over
  116. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  117. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  118. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  119. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  120. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  121. August 24th to September 7th
  122. August 11th to August 23rd
  123. July 16th to August 9th
  124. July 1st to July 15th
  125. June 17th to June 29th
  126. June 2nd to June 16th
  127. May 19th to June 1st
  128. May 7th to May 17th
  129. April 28th to May 6th
  130. April 22nd to April 27th
  131. April 13th to April 21st
  132. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  133. March 5th to March 12th
Bleater's Blog
  1. The Season Run In
  2. It’s Six Nations Time!
  3. 2024 Has Arrived
  4. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  5. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  6. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  7. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  8. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  9. The Summer Break
  10. The Final Countdown
  11. The Summer Tours Up Next
  12. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  13. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  14. 2023 Has Arrived
  15. The Halfway Point of the Season
  16. The Season Continues into Autumn
  17. Here we go! A new season
  18. The Twilight Zone
  19. The Season is Nearly Over
  20. The Six Nations and Some
  21. The 6 Nations Begins
  22. 2022 and All THAT!
  23. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  24. We’re Still Waiting
  25. The Season Progresses
  26. At Last - We are back
  27. The New Season is Nearly Here
  28. Lions Tests are Here!
  29. The Lions Up next
  30. Now It’s Europe
  31. 6 Nations Beckons
  32. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  33. A New Premiership Season
  34. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  35. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  36. No End In Sight To The Madness
  37. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  38. We're Back - In Part At Least
  39. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  40. When will we play again?
  41. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  42. It's easing apparently???!!!
  43. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  44. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  45. The Debate Continues
  46. Yet another new page
  47. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  48. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  49. The Season Moves On
  50. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  51. 6 Nations Starts
  52. Another New Page - Sorry
  53. 6 Nations Beckons
  54. Welcome To A New Decade
  55. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  56. Xmas is Coming
  57. Back to the Grassroots Game
  58. Bleater in Japan
  59. The Grassroots Season Starts
  60. Not Long Now!
  61. Japan Still Beckons
  62. Japan Beckons
  63. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  64. The Summer Break is Here
  65. The Final Countdown
  66. Yet another section of drivel
  67. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  68. The 6 Nations Continues
  69. Six Nations and More
  70. It's RWC Year!!
  71. Its Definitely Winter
  72. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  73. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  74. We Are Off And Running
  75. The New Season Approaches
  76. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  77. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  78. The Season Climax Approaches
  79. Summer is Coming
  80. Another Section, More Drivel
  81. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  82. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  83. The Season Takes Shape
  84. The Season Starts
  85. More Pre-Season Build Up
  86. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  87. The Lions Tested
  88. The Lions Roar
  89. We Are Still Counting Down
  90. It's All About The Lions
  91. The Countdown to Season's End
  92. The Season Continues Apace
  93. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  94. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  95. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  96. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  97. It's Time For Europe
  98. The Season Is Well Underway
  99. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  100. Not Long to the New Season
  101. Not So Much Rugby Now
  102. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  103. The Summer Break
  104. Here Comes Summer
  105. They Think It's All Over
  106. Jones - A New Era
  107. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  108. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  109. Six Nations 2016
  110. A New Captain, A New Start
  111. Welcome to 2016
  112. The Countdown to Christmas
  113. Winter Has Arrived
  114. November Movember
  115. The World Cup Is Over
  116. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  117. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  118. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  119. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  120. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  121. August 24th to September 7th
  122. August 11th to August 23rd
  123. July 16th to August 9th
  124. July 1st to July 15th
  125. June 17th to June 29th
  126. June 2nd to June 16th
  127. May 19th to June 1st
  128. May 7th to May 17th
  129. April 28th to May 6th
  130. April 22nd to April 27th
  131. April 13th to April 21st
  132. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  133. March 5th to March 12th
Bleater's Blog 1 of 133

1. The Season Run In


Monday 18th Feb: 09:45

Being a creature of habit I suppose I better get stuck into the latest results around the parish. In Kent 1, after our 27-21 defeat at the hands of Beccehamian, we sit 5th in the table, they remain in 3rd just a couple of points behind Dartfordians who drew 27-27 with Bromley who are 4th. Canterbury II remain top after beating Ashford. Our good friends The Greenies beat Deal & Betteshanger 15-10. In the battle for survival both Cranbrook and Charlton Park did themselves no harm at all by beating Dover and Thanet Wanderers respectively. Thanet now sit at the foot of the table with Park and Cranbrook just above them. We could have a significant impact on the outcome of who goes down and who stays up with Thanet and Cranbrook being our final two games of the season.

In Surrey/Sussex 1 a mixed day for the Sussex sides. Hove put Old Walcountians in their place winning 53-3. Eastbourne battled valiantly against table topping Teddington losing 43-53. East Grinstead lost 71-26 to Weybridge Vandals. Old Cranleighans are down as they again failed to fulfil a fixture. Eastbourne are 6th, Hove now 7th and Grinstead 8th.

Over in Hampshire 1 not a great day for Bognor who lost 30-0 to Gosport & Fareham. Petersfield top this one despite not playing as bottom placed Bournemouth II pulled out. Sadly Bognor are just one place above in 11th.

In Sussex 2 Uckfield lost at home to league leaders Haywards Heath 27-15. Pulborough stay hot on their heels after their win over Seaford. Crawley lost to Worthing III and sit at the foot of the table. In the other game Shoreham beat Brighton II. It’s advantage Heath in the chase for promotion. In the battle to stay up it is between Burgess Hill and Crawley. Two tough fixtures ahead for both.

Up in the Regional set up it was a good day for Chichester beating Tottonians 18-12. They move up into 9th and look safe. Salisbury are far from safe after losing at Wimborne. They lie in 11th with two tough fixture to come. Jersey RFC are strolling this league. In Regional 1 it was a horrid day for Horsham losing at Marlborough 43-10. They slip to the bottom of the league. Brighton lost at CS Stags and Tunbridge Wells were beaten 67-26 at Maidenhead. Havant continue to lead the charge but Camberley are hot on their heels.

Up in the rarified atmosphere of the National Leagues a good day for Worthing beating Sevenoaks 40-28. TJs continue their fine season with a 36-21 win at Wimbledon. It’s tight at the top with Esher just in front but plenty of games to come. TJs are 4th but out of the promotion race, in my opinion. ‘Oaks are looking comfortable in 9th but Worthing still have a bit to do to make sure they stay up, but are looking increasingly secure.

Elsewhere Hastings & Bexhill lost to Sittingbourne, Rye beat Dover 2s, Barnes Green beat Eastbourne 2s, Ditching won at Hove 3s, Lewes won over at Jersey Royals, Steyning beat Horsham 2s, Holbrook beat Hellingly, Littlehampton lost to EG 2s, and finally St Leonards beat Eastbourne 3s.

Not quite finally as Bridgnorth lost at Stoke-on-Trent.

Plenty in the papers about the Six Nations. Ireland were deserved winners but as in the World Cup failed to meet expectations by not winning the Grand Slam. They will on currently form supply the bulk of The Lions next summer. Scotland, the perennial under achievers. Scraping a win against a woeful Wales, being robbed against France and losing to Italy after their demolition of England speaks volumes about their erratic form. There is a sense of justifiable optimism for those who follow the red rose. The performance against Ireland and then again against France would indicate the tide is turning in terms of playing structure and tactical approach. Picking the best players on form has to be Steve Borthwick’s priority. Forget trying to shoehorn players into a tactical approach. Italy were superb, with two wins and a draw, a draw which should have been a win. Their new coach has made an immediate impact and the support for their two URC teams is paying dividends, seven of the starting pack against Wales came from Benetton Trevino. Wales, despite all the rhetoric, were awful. Yes, this is a rebuilding phase, but as my esteemed brother has just told me, it is like the blind leading the blind. The coaching staff must shoulder much of the blame. Warren Gatland did the honourable thing and offered to resign but the question is a) who is there to replace him, and b) who in their right mind would want to replace him? In my opinion overall this has been a very poor tournament. With a few exceptions the games have been poor, the officiating patchy and the TV coverage less than perfect.

The Six Nations isn’t quite over as the ladies kick off this weekend. England will win, France will be second.