Cup run off to a flying start

Straight back to it after winning the Yorkshire 3 league the previous week, Northallerton’s men’s first XV travelled down to Old Otliensians RUFC for the first of their cup fixtures. A stern test awaited them for sure as Otliensians had also finished top of their league after an unbeaten season. The men’s second XV were just up the road at Richmondshire RUFC in their final game of the season, looking to carry on the winning habit that they’ve often found this year.

Playing with the wind at their backs, North began the game with a statement of intent. Fly half Jedd Bainbridge kicked long to secure an attacking lineout close to the tryline with a terrific 50:22 kick. From the resulting maul, prop forward Connah Richmond barrelled his way over the line to get the visitors on the scoreboard. After receiving the kick off, North repeated the approach and found themselves in the same position with the same opportunity. This time it was the turn of Phil Swall to power his way over the line. Bainbridge was able to convert from out wide in windy conditions to extend the lead. Otliensians refused to lie down though and used their strong forwards both in attack or defence to punch holes in the North line and nullify many of the early exchanges. It was out of one of these spells of pressure from the home side that North’s next try appeared. Defending hard inside their 22-metre area, it seemed that the hosts had created an overlap and a scoring opportunity only for centre Ollie Walters to read the play brilliantly and intercept the crucial pass to race away. With everyone expecting to be attacking North’s end, Walters had an open field in front of him and outpaced all the chasing defenders to score the visitor’s third try.
The hosts refused to be daunted though and set to their task well for much of the remainder of the first half. Showing the cohesion that had given them an unbeaten season they put phases together and scored two well worked tries in quick succession to narrow the deficit to a seven-point game. To the rescue though came Swall just as the tide of momentum was looking to turn against North. He cut a useful line close to the try line and became the platform the visitors needed to crash over the line and restore their grip on the game. Bainbridge converted to extend the lead. A yellow card for a deliberate knock on right at the end of the first half did nothing to help the ambitions of Otliensians to get back into the game. North went into the break 10-24 ahead.
It took a bit of time in the second half for the next score to come. Both teams were defending valiantly and giving little away. Having endured a prolonged spell of pressure on their own five metre line repelling the repeated advances of Otliensians, a turnover at the ruck threw the ball out into the hands of North’s winger Ben Pilling. Pinning his ears back, he aimed for the other end of the pitch and out-ran all the defence to score. Bainbridge again was accurate off the tee. Otliensians did pull another unconverted try back, however the toll of defending with fourteen had sapped a significant amount of energy and in the face of a North side playing with increasing confidence despite a strong headwind they were unable to overhaul the deficit. Winger Ross Easdon showed classy juggling skills to bring in a troublesome pass and then a useful turn of pace to get himself over in the corner to put the win beyond doubt. Bainbridge again converted from wide out into wind. The hosts managed to have the last say of the game and showed their dogged determination to score another unconverted try to make the score board look more respectable, and a fairer reflection of the game witnessed. The match ended with a final score of Old Otliensians 20 – Northallerton 38. A terrific effort from the boys having had the emotional highs last week and managing to sustain their intensity. A big thank you to Otliensians for their generous hospitality and to the referee for officiating the match. Many thanks also the travelling support who are willing the lads on in the journey back to Twickenham.

Northallerton’s men’s second XV had an early kick off away against Richmondshire for their family fun day at the club. The game did not disappoint with a few faces from multiple local clubs helping to boost numbers on both sides. North won the coin toss and chose to go against the wind and up the hill in the first half. Shire kicked off deep into North’s half which was gathered up and taken forward. The first half was very one sided with Shire taking some quick tries and a dominant scrum. Northallerton veteran Joe Osleton propping for the hosts for a change of scenery. North were forced to play a defensive game to hold the home side out and made it to the break a full nineteen points down.
A quick pep talk was needed at the break and captain David Baker’s words must have inspired something in the boys as they came out fighting in the second half. Kicking off with the wind and slope behind them this time, North looked to overturn the deficit and began with a try to Will Adam out wide that was swiftly upgraded to a penalty try owing to a high tackle in the act of scoring. As the hosts were reduced to fourteen players for ten minutes, North continued to keep the pressure on, pushing deep into the Richmondshire half with a line out ten yards from their try line. Dave Baker ended up with the ball and despite the efforts of the defenders to remove his shorts, the crowd certainly had an eye full, was able to pop the ball up close to the try line to Tom Moore who dived over under the posts. Scrum half Ben Gray was able to convert to
narrow the gap. With three minutes left on the clock, North knew they had it all to play for with a attacking scrum ten metres from the North’s own try line. A tactical call from team manager Tim Phillips to kick the ball long was heard by Ollie Redding. The chase was on and, led by winger Reece Brammah, the Shire full back was unable to gather the ball cleanly under the pressure and allowed it to bounce kindly into the arms of Brammah who touched the ball down over the try line. This tied the scores with the conversion to come as the last play of the game. In a moment that shows just how misfortune happens to professionals and amateurs alike, as Gray stepped forward to take his kick the ball wobbled in the wind and fell off the tee in a moment many six nations fans will vividly remember. The rushed effort, once it was replaced, was on target however it hit the crossbar and bounced out to leave the scores level at 19-19. A fair reflection on balance of a game that swung to either team throughout the afternoon. Many thanks must go to Richmondshire for the hospitality and playing the game in such good spirits. Thanks also to the referee for officiating the game in such an open manner. Captain David Baker would like to thank all the players, supporters and contributors of the second XV for what has been a thoroughly enjoyable season and looks forward to much more of the same next time around.

For any readers who would like to be involved in Northallerton RUFC, the men will still be training for the next few weeks on a Tuesday and Thursday 7pm, the juniors play on a Sunday 10am and there will be a summer touch rugby tournament over the summer months. Please see the club’s social media for more information.