SECOND HALF SHOW

Northallerton 1st team entertained Halifax Vandals at home and gained their first victory of the season in an entertaining 44-6 encounter. North started off the first half disjointed and were guilty of giving away far too many penalties from which Halifax punished the home team twice. Fortunately, North managed to score a fine try in-between the penalties from Nathan Cannel, which was expertly converted by Joe Terry. The game was still very close with both teams making mistakes and the referee penalising North more often than most spectators felt necessary. One such innocuous discretion led to Ed Bulman having a 10 minute rest in the sin bin for holding on after the tackle, during his enforced absence North showed some valiant defending combined with penetrating counter attacking – especially from returning winger Matty Bell. Just before half time, Bulman returned from the sin bin and combined with Bell to send Terry over for a terrific try in the corner but the conversion drifted wide. Half time 12-6

North started the second half much more disciplined and played some of the best rugby seen at Northallerton for quite a while. Young hooker Jonny Baker was having a fine game both in the scrum and in open play, and was instrumental in a couple of the tries. North threatened to run amok in the second half, only thwarted by the referee constantly blowing up for what seemed to be the most minor and peculiar indiscretions. However, the home team still managed to score 6 fine tries. Rennison and Bulman both achieved one try each, and there were two tries each for Bell and Duffus – both of whom were very unfortunate not to get a hat trick! Northallerton could easily have put 60 or 70 points on the board if it were not for the unwavering and steadfast defending by Halifax combined with some ‘unusual’ refereeing decisions! One decision that could not be questioned however, was the customary yellow card for little Dick Dongsdale for an illegal hand off – again!
Man of the match - Ian Duffus see picture.

Next week Northallerton 1st team make another long journey, this time to Goole, and hopefully most (if not all) will be available to travel. - even if you are doing The Great North Run!