By Alexander Fynn
As the last game of 2025 approaches, Bridlington RUFC return to home turf as table-toppers against strugglers Bramley Phoenix.
Sanderson’s men will be looking to sit at the top of the tree over the festive period. Victory on the road to Roundhegians sent the Dukes Park men to the summit and, with no easy games in the league, Bramley Phoenix are the visitors this Saturday.
The opposition have had quite the opposite fortunes to the home side, with a run of three losses, and they will be looking to break that streak.
Their most recent defeat came against Huddersfield Laund Hill and with only five points separating the sides (losing 20–25), confidence will be high for the visitors. Bridlington themselves fell 42–13 to Laund Hill — their only loss so far in the Yorkshire RFU 2 Counties Division.
Head Coach Callam Sanderson reflected on last week’s victory and the preparations ahead of the upcoming match:
“I say this every week, but we’re really excited to get back onto the pitch. We’ve taken a lot of confidence, not only from the win away at Roundhegians, but also from the wins against Old Otliensians and Bradford & Bingley.
“I think we have proven to ourselves that we are real contenders for the competition, and we’ve taken a lot of confidence from that.
“With that being said, Bramley Phoenix are expected to be a battle. Despite being lower in the table, compared to the other sides around them their points difference isn’t big. We’ve had a shuffle around in the squad: Jamie Martin is playing in the back row this week, so he’ll give us some physicality; and we’ve got Oliver Stephenson in the centre — I love having players like him because I can slot him in anywhere in the side.
“We’ve spoken a lot this week about being at the top of the league. Now that every team we play against sees us as a target, we can’t sit back. We’re really going to have to fight until the end of the season.”
