The Fortress is Still Secure

Two games at Brompton Lodge brought large crowds to the home of Northallerton rugby, eager to see the first XV continue their unbeaten campaign in Yorkshire 3 league and the second XV build on some entertaining performances with their core of players building week on week.
The second XV kicked off early against Acklam RUFC third XV and flew into quick lead. Veteran playmaker Doug Mulholland continued his try scoring form this season with another long-distance effort to open the scoring. It wasn’t long before electric winger Reece Brammah found space down the side of the Acklam defence to race in and score the host’s second try. This was quickly followed up by another try, this time scored by Regan Foster who helped North establish a commanding lead.
Acklam weren’t daunted by this early blitz from North and responded in kind, using their big ball carriers to punch holes in the home side’s defence and found their way to the try line to open their account. The game ebbed and flowed evenly for the rest of the first half, Acklam’s cause not being aided by frequent, unfortunate injuries that drew heavily on their squad depth.
Following the half time oranges, both teams came out firing again looking to move the ball quickly through the hands with centre Ben Robinson playing a pivotal role in most line breaks. It was Acklam though who scored first with more powerful carrying and a conversion added as well.
Charles Ransom came off the bench for North to help restore a margin for them, beating several defenders with his quick feet to find space in the corner. Acklam refused to give up the fight and had the last say of the game with a well worked try involving most team members to finish with a
try, converted in front of the posts. The game finished with a final score of Northallerton 20 – Acklam 19. Many thanks to Acklam for travelling in good numbers and to the referee for officiating the game.
The first XV hosted fellow previous Yorkshire 2 team Wheatley Hills looking to continue their fine form this season. Hills came out of the gates with furious intent, running hard and moving the ball quickly through the hands. North were able to soak up the pressure and when the time came to counter attack, showed their intent clearly. Crisp passing and offloads that stuck to hand allowed North to get around the visitor’s defence and Jack Radcliffe finished the move. Jedd Bainbridge converted from out wide in windy conditions. From the restart Bainbridge showed his kicking credentials with a sublime clearance kick from his own 22-metre area to land five metres out from the visitors try line. This gave Northallerton the attacking line out and from this platform James Hopkin crashed over under the posts to give Bainbridge a simple conversion. The rest of the first half continued at more controlled pace and the half time whistle came with no further score but
plenty of entertaining rugby played.
The game restarted after the break, North attacking with width at every opportunity and looking very organised both with and without the ball. Bainbridge provided one of the highlights of the game, showing the ball to every defender he wove his way through the visitors to score a solo try under the posts to which he then added the extra points. At this point the game had swung heavily in North’s favour but Hills refused to give in. A succession of drives led to them getting within a whisker of the home side’s try line and if not for some committed defending that resulted in the ball being held up, Hill’s would have had a foothold in the game. Not looking to rest on their laurels, North quickly turned the ball over and spread it wide to attack the wings. Using most players on the pitch the ball found it’s way into the hands of winger Josh Barrett who cantered in to the corner to score another North try. This was followed up quickly by another counter attacking try, similar in style to several of their previous that Bainbridge converted. To close out the game, it was the turn of the home side’s other winger Ross Easdon who capped off a fine performance of line breaks and off loading by running in a try in the final play of the game which Bainbridge again duly converted from the touchline to secure the win and himself a man of the match performance. Final score Northallerton 40 – Wheatley Hills 0. A big thank you to the referee for the day who officiated very well, allowing the fast-flowing game to take place and to all volunteers at the club who helped make
both games happen.
For any readers wanting to play rugby in Northallerton, the men train on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm, the ladies on Wednesday 7pm and the juniors on Sunday at 10:30am. All ages and abilities welcome.