Wins continue for North on the road

Northallerton men’s first XV travelled to West Park Leeds RUFC looking to continue their winning run, this time away from home. Having enjoyed two bonus point victories so far at the Lodge, the squad knew it would be a different challenge to continue that form on the road. Northallerton’s ladies’ first XV were on the road as well, making the short trip up the road to local rivals Yarm RFC.

The men’s game started very brightly. Clearly inspired by some of the world cup performances, both teams moved the ball from coast to coast looking to exploit spaces out wide and up the middle of the pitch. If not for some last ditch defending on either side the scoreboard would have been ticking over quickly with the number of chances created. As it was, the half time score of 0-6 following two penalties late on from fly-half Jedd Bainbridge belayed what was a very entertaining first half. The second half started much as the first left off. A period of pressure on the Northallerton try line gave the hosts a penalty and a much-needed chance to get on the scoreboard. It was Northallerton though, who managed to register the game’s first try. Scrum half Jack Tart, who had looked lively all game, found a small gap around the fringes of a ruck after a long spell of pressure against a solid West Park defence. Bainbridge continued his fine kicking form by adding the conversion. Bainbridge followed this with another penalty from in front of the posts to extend the away side’s lead. West Park had looked threatening in attack all game and managed to convert this pressure into points by scoring their only try towards the edge of the pitch. The conversion was pushed wide and Northallerton managed to close out the game with another Bainbridge penalty to leave a final score of West Park Leeds 8 – Northallerton 19. A big thank you to West Park for their generous hospitality and to the referee for officiating an open, flowing game of rugby.

The early stages of the ladies’ game saw many scrums due to handling errors from both sides. A scrum about 30 metres out from Yarm’s try line saw North scrum half Emily Richardson find space from a pick and go, turn on the pace and score a wonderful long range try to give the visitors a five-point lead. Play started to flow better with both teams finding space to run but every break was met with solid covering tackles, the game starting to turn into a festival of tackling with huge hits from both teams, non coming bigger than from Shauna Lawson who displayed perfect technique to bring down the big Yarm runners. Play continued with Yarm sending in their best ball carriers, making several line breaks but falling short thanks to three or four stunning try saving tackles from North’s full-back Emma Lawson. Yarm changed tactics and eventually got over the try line and with the conversion added surged into a two point lead.
Keen to get back ahead, North fought their way up the pitch, the backs showing off silky smooth hands and finding Trinity Earnshaw on the wing who set off down the pitch like a rat up a drainpipe, Yarm tackled her just short of the line. Ali O’Brien recycled quickly and darted for the line only to be tackled short. A quick offload to Emily Richardson allowed her to get over the line for a second try.
The second half kicked off with play continuing much like the first half, momentum swinging both ways. North showed great attacking play working their way up the pitch with captain Natalie Gardiner finishing off a fantastic team effort, O’Brien adding the conversion. Yarm replied instantly from the kick off with a well worked try of their own and added the conversion to narrow the gap to three points. The remainder of the second half was a tense affair seeing both teams attack, defend, jackal and give everything they had in a very entertaining show of what the game can be. Keen to have the final say, North found themselves in the Yarm 22 metre territory, O’Brien keen as ever to get on the scoresheet saw a gap and exploited it, adding the conversion to see out the game. Final score Yarm RFC 14 – Northallerton RUFC 24. Players of the match were Emily Richardson, Emma Lawson and Shauna Lawson. A big thank you to Yarm for the fantastic hospitality and the referee for
officiating the game.

For any readers interested in playing rugby, the men train on a Tuesday and Thursday 7pm, the ladies train on a Wednesday 7pm and the juniors on a Sunday 10am. All ages and abilities welcome.