"Down the Line" blog by Andrew Henderson
Down the Line - Week 1
10th February 2009
The freezing weather decimated week one's cup fixture but our game at Keighley Cougars was given the green light to be replayed on Tuesday evening - and what a bitterly cold one it was.
It was the first time I'd played at Cougar Park but I kid you not I'll remember the visit for all the wrong reasons.
Firstly, it was the coldest night I've ever experienced playing rugby since moving back to this country from Australia eight years ago.
The reception from the Cougars was no warmer; in fact, there was no heating in the away dressing room a as the temperature outside dipped to minus 4c. By the time we got out on to the pitch we huddled together like penguins.
And then to cap it all we went down 40-20. But all credit to the Cougars, they were well organised and their fitness levels were impressive.
We had worked on a game plan, but we made too many mistakes. Our opponents were well structured and certainly played better than when we met last season. No complaints though the better side won on the night.
It was a wake up call for the lads, but was our first outing since we played Castleford Tigers in a friendly on Boxing Day and for many of my teammates it was their first match in action since Gateshead were promoted last August.
That's a long time between footy games in anybody's language.
We have got Sheffield Eagles visiting the Gateshead Stadium on Sunday and we now know this is a must win game if we are to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
And winning the Northern Rail Cup is now a must for every ambitious Championship club now that lifting the trophy in July counts towards building an application for admission to the engage Super League in three years time.
The Cup was already an more important part of Rugby League's fixture format, but adding that extra incentive has made it into 'must see entertainment' for the fans and placed it on the 'really want to win' list for the majority of clubs.
Because the sport of Rugby League is now taking the Northern Rail Cup that seriously, those critics who weren't convinced by the competition before are now being forced to eat their words.
Believe me all the Championship players I've met so far have put winning the Cup in their sights for the season and having played in a Northern Rail Cup Final at Blackpool for Castleford I know what winning it can mean to the club and its fans.
It's silverware. It's glory. And now there's a bonus because it will form part of a club's CV for the future.
York is one of may favourite cities so I jumped at the chance to visit this week, not for the sights I hastened to add but to have my picture at the station. The shoot was done very appropriately alongside a Northern train which was bound for Blackpool. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the driver, Kate Ayrton who stole the show when she agreed to be in some of the photos. What a star.
It's back to the training ground and more work on our systems and let's hope it pays dividends against the Eagles on Sunday.
Hope you are able to catch a game soon.
Hendo
The talented Scotland international hooker, Andrew Henderson (28), took up Rugby League in Australia after his family emigrated there when he was seven. On returning to Britain he spent four seasons with Castleford Tigers before signing for Championship side Gateshead Thunder for the 2009 season.
