More big wins for North at home

Once again, the men’s and ladies’ first XV produced dominant displays to continue their fine form this season. Both games were entertaining spectacles that made the best of what could have been tricky conditions and very capable opponents. The juniors were also in action on Sunday away at Stockton who they have beaten once this season already, however this time the honours went to the home side to level the tally between the two teams.

The ladies’ first XV played at home this weekend against local rivals Richmondshire Ravens. Keen to carry the momentum from their win over Durham into today’s game, North started the match brightly and were clearly up for the contest by claiming early possession and making Shire work had in defence. North looked like a well-polished team in the opening exchanges, going through several phases of play, all working together as a unit to support the ball carriers and get to the breakdown. North were able to pin Shire back in their own 22-metre area and when the ball came along the backs from a ruck it was captain Natalie Gardiner who went over for the home side’s first try. Ali O’Brien kicked the conversion from out wide with a confident cry of “I’m on fire at the minute”, this was a statement she would later regret. Richmondshire were quick to try and get back into the game, attacking with intent across the pitch. North were able to manage these attacks with everyone on the team tackling like their lives depended on it. Their counter-rucking and jackaling over the breakdown paid dividends as North managed twice to turn defensive duties into attacking possession and score tries out wide. O’Brien scored both of these tries but was unable to convert. Consistency of intensity is a feature of their game that the ladies’ have worked hard on and this showed again in this performance. The second half brought much of the same attacking and defensive enthusiasm as the first. Richmondshire always looked keen to attack and move the ball however several key turnovers allowed O’Brien to boot the ball well down field to gain territory. The team played as one, always having support for the ball carrier in attack and tackling low and hard in defence. It became clear that whilst Shire’s determination and willingness to play never ceased, North were too focussed on the job at hand to allow any mistakes. O’Brien ran in two more tries in the second half and converted one to bring the final score to Northallerton 29 – Richmondshire Ravens 0. A hard fought but deserved win was just rewards for another all-round team effort, enough to even make coach Robbo smile at one point (allegedly). Forwards of the match were given
to Charlotte Swall and Amy Pointon, backs of the match were given to Natalie Gardiner and Emily McCormack. Many thanks to the Ravens for travelling down to the Lodge and bringing plenty of support. Thanks also to referee Ellie Bilton for officiating the game and to all the volunteers at the club who helped make the day happen.

The men’s first XV played host to Rotherham Phoenix RUFC on a still but damp day at the Lodge. Straight from the kick off North looked to assert their dominance, a lineout inside the visitors’ half being followed with hard carrying from the backs and from the resulting ruck, scrum half Jack Tart found a small space around the fringes to squeeze through and run in the opening try with barely two minutes on the clock. Ollie Walters kicked the conversion from out wide. Rotherham looked to be struggling to shake the long journey out of their legs and had to settle for defensive duties only as North held possession for multiple phases, keeping the ball in play as much as possible. Centre Nathan Bishoprick was the first to break the line and drive North deep into Rotherham territory. Good patience was needed to make the most of it and that was what the hosts showed. Captain Ed Meek muscled his way over the try line from close range after numerous phases on the goal line.
Walters was on target again with the conversion. This score sparked the visitors into life and, having run the bus journey off, played their way up towards the Northallerton try line and it was only some heroic tackling from the North forwards and a very timely turnover at the breakdown from back row Jeremy Deas that held them out. Both teams made sure the spectators were entertained by keeping the flow of the game going and the speed of play quick. North found themselves back down in the visitors’ ascendency where Phil Swall was able to dive over from the back of a rolling maul. North’s next try came from a moment of individual skill to put a contender for try of the season. Full
back for the day Tom Peacock caught an attempted clearance kick and set off back downfield. Seeing a wall of defenders in front of him, he put the ball high into the air and ran on to it, anticipating the awkward bounce better than his opposite man to run in untouched for another try
to North. Walters kicked the difficult conversion from out wide. Rotherham showed good ambition and threat with the ball in hand going wide but were unable to deliver the last pass on several occasions that would have opened their scoring up. Not to be deterred, they took advantage of several Northallerton infringements at the breakdown including a yellow card for a tip tackle from winger Ben Pilling and after relentless phases in front of the posts they managed to force their way over the line to bring themselves back into the game.
The second half saw the pace of the game slacken slightly with the game becoming more stop-start due to ill discipline from both sides. Large periods of defensive duties tested North and their scoring in the second forty came largely from opportunistic turnovers and breakaway tries. Winger Ross Easdon was the first poacher to land a score, picking up a loose pass to run in from over half the pitch away. Walters once again was on target from out wide. Rotherham sought to chase the game and moved the ball around more as the game went on. Playing more in the wide channels than the tight, they found gaps around the North defence and managed to score two tries in relatively quick succession however, it was Peacock who had the last say in the game, scoring his second try of the day by pouncing on a turnover ball to run in a try that was converted by Walters to end the game. The final score for the match Northallerton 40 – Rotherham 19.
A big thank you to Rotherham for travelling in good numbers, the referee for officiating the game and to all the volunteers at the club who helped make the day happen.

The under 15’s played at home on Sunday against Stockton RUFC in a repeat of a fixture that North won comfortably earlier in the season. This time it was a far more even contest with both teams defending well and making it difficult to score tries. Stockton ran out winners in a tightly fought 10 – 17 victory to level the tally for the season between these two sides. Many thanks to Stockton for their travelling, the referee for officiating and to all the volunteers at the club for their work in making the day happen.

Any readers who would like to take up rugby or join the club, training for men is on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm, ladies train on Wednesday 7pm and juniors play on Sunday 10am. All ages and abilities welcome.