TO CONSETT FOR A PLAY-OFF

And so we start off on a long ( but possibly short) road to promotion to L5 with a trip to Consett. Consett RUFC celebrated its centenary in 2023. There had been a rugby club in the area prior to this but it had fallen by the wayside – some think as a result of the First World War. For years Consett was not a regular on Sunderland’s 1^st XV fixture list but all this changed with the introduction of leagues in the 1980s and there have been regular meetings ever since. The earliest reference I found to a game between the clubs was a 1928 Junior Cup clash between Sunderland IIs and Consett 1^st XV with the Consett team noted as ‘hot stuff’ at their level. During the last thirty odd years honours have been fairly even between the clubs’ 1^st XVs. Consett have often provided stern opposition - especially when boosted by players from the southern hemisphere. There can be no doubt that Consett is a strong family and community club with a desire to progress. Looking in the newspaper archives I found a hard-fought 1992 victory gained by a try from Stu Brown and the reliable boot of Mr Waddell. A 2002 match ended in defeat despite a formidable front row of A Harrison, P Harrison and A Ross –  that’s 24 years ago but still in the side today, Petie. In 2004 the Echo team sheet  for Sunderland IIs visit to Consett noted a ‘strong’ side with what were described even then as ‘mature’ players including the late Tommy Harrison, Michael Brace, Peter Roseberry, Kevin Logan and Mick Armstrong. ‘Mature’ in 2004 and that’s 22 years ago !

Can you spot a 'mature' 2026 prop/hooker and coach in this successful 1990s junior side?