The ‘all-time greats’ face final hurdle

May 31 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Northumberland step out at Twickenham tomorrow eager to add a silver lining to a fine season for regional rugby. Mark Douglas spoke to the man at the heart of their efforts

NORTHUMBERLAND skipper Dave Guthrie leads his team out at Twickenham tomorrow morning convinced it is the finest group of players ever to grace the county jersey.

The second rower – a police sergeant in Wallsend by day – and his unbeaten team hope to make history by winning a first County Shield for nearly 20 years against Cornwall. With promotion to next season’s Bill Beaumont Trophy already assured, there might be a temptation to treat the end-of-season prestige clash like a ‘day out’ but the 38-year-old Blaydon captain does not subscribe to that view.

It is Guthrie’s fourth time at HQ, having skippered Blaydon in the EDF Energy Trophy in 2001 and 2003 as well as a losing 1995 visit in the County Shield with Northumberland.

As he freely admits while his hit rate of one success in three attempts isn’t spectacular, his experience of playing on the big stage should help the likes of Tim Swinson and Jonny Williams – two Newcastle Falcons youngsters who have arrived in the squad after honing their talent at Tynedale this season.

Their presence has helped a squad that reflects the buoyant nature of grass roots rugby in the region.

“With the success of Blaydon and Tynedale it is a good time for rugby in this region and you can see that in our squad. In all the time I’ve played for the county, this is the best squad I’ve ever played in,” he said.

“Perhaps some people might look at this tournament as a sideshow now in the professional era, but it still means an awful lot to the people who play in it.

“Plenty has changed since I started playing the game – you’d never have seen backs marauding forward, for example – but the importance of county rugby is still there.

“It is full credit to the Northumberland committee really, they do make you believe it is something very special to pull on the county jersey. I think it is traditionally very strong for county rugby and there is always an interest in putting out the strongest county side that we can.”

Opponents Cornwall have a similarly strong county tradition, and with players drawn mostly from Redruth and Launceston they pose a big threat to Northumberland’s hopes. They have a squad of players competing at a slightly higher level than the majority of the Tynedale players in the Northumberland squad and are regarded as slight favourites.

Guthrie said: “They’re going to be a good side, we know that. But we have to believe that we’re good enough to beat them because we’ve proved throughout this campaign we’ve got talented players.”

Due to the demands of squeezing the game in before the England-Barbarians fixture the match will kick off at 10am, a situation that is far from ideal for amateur players almost wholly used to 3pm weekend starts.

Guthrie subscribes to the accepted wisdom that five hours’ preparation is required before competing, but the early start means that is impossible.

To combat the threat of being caught out by Cornwall the county were due to train early today after travelling down to the capital on Friday.

“If it’s a case of playing the game at 10am or not having it at Twickenham, I don’t think you’d find one person in our squad who would opt for a later kick-off and a change of venue,” said Guthrie. “Playing at Twickenham means so much to us all – the early morning start is an inconvenience I’m sure we’re all prepared to put up with.”

With the rigours of a full club season behind them, coach Tom Borthwick has opted not to work his squad too hard in the run-up to the final, carrying out just two light training sessions. Northumberland have no new injury problems and back-row pair Andrew Murray and Jason Smithson are available after both missed the North Midlands game.

The selectors’ only doubt is the availability of Tynedale centre Ben Duncan, who is scheduled to go on a zoological field trip but is hopeful of getting clearance to play.

“It is the chance of lifetime for all of them but they’re not just going along for the ride. There is a serious determination to go and win the trophy now having done all the hard work to get there,” added Guthrie.

“Cornwall are a strong county with a good tradition but when I won the Shield with Cumbria we went there and won so it can be done. We just have to match them for effort and commitment because I know we have talented players.”

Northumberland also set off for Twickenham with a message of good luck from Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates, who believes the experience of playing in the County Championship will help with the development of the clutch of Kingston Park Academy players in their line-up.

“We wish them all the best, they’re a good side who play excellent rugby. I watched them play against North Midlands a fortnight ago and I thought our lads did really well – Swinson was outstanding and Jonny Williams was superb,” he said.

“It’s great to Northumberland doing well and Tynedale and Blaydon in the Second Division, it’s good for the region and hopefully we can help them a bit more next season.”

NORTHUMBERLAND (v Cornwall, Sunday): J Smales (Tynedale), P Cole (Morpeth), B Duncan (Tynedale), P Mooney (Otley), H Smales (Launceston), Gavin Beasley (Tynedale), D Kay (Northern); J Williams (Tynedale), M Hall (Blaydon), R Harden (Tynedale), D Guthrie (Blaydon, cap), G Smith (London Scottish), T Swinson (Tynedale), G Rastall (Tynedale), J Smithson (Blaydon). Reps: P Winter (Blaydon), M Fieldhouse (Tynedale), P Southern (Tynedale), D Whitehead (Blaydon), Grant Beasley (Tynedale), A Murray (Tynedale), C Rayner (Mowden Park).