DONGSDALE - MORE YELLOW CARDS THAN BIRTHDAY CARDS

Northallerton 1st team entertained strugglers Old Otliensians at home and eventually ground out a comfortable 36-11 win.

Otley have been struggling all season, but a recent influx of new and returning players bolstered their team and made this for a long period, a close and even encounter. The first half was a lot closer than the home fans were expecting with Otleys defence being durable and their scrum half linking well with his back line. North’s only score coming from flanker Flash Macintosh, who seems is improving with every game, Tim Tomling slotted home the conversion with his usual blasé approach. Macintosh was looking dangerous gathering any loose ball whilst always being in support of the backs. Otley hit back just before half time with a long range penalty to send the teams in at half time 7-3

North started the second half more determined to keep possession, and pressure the opposition into more mistakes. Prop Liam Lincoln was full of running and vigour, he was ably supported by Lee Peake who was also looking keen to spoil the visitors’ link play. North soon got their just rewards when a loose ball was gathered in midfield by Ed Bulman who fed the ball to Jo Terry, who in turn beat two men to score out wide. The conversion drifted just wide. Before Otley could gather themselves they were hit with another try from Macintosh who charged down a clearance kick to get his second try, unfortunately, Tomling’s conversion hit the upright. The visitors then got back into the game when Richard Dongsdale was penalised and yellow carded (HIS 10th THIS SEASON) for hands in the maul, the Otley fly half scoring the resulting penalty. With North down to 14 men Otley put the home team under immense pressure, but despite some strong scrummaging from replacement Nickerless Bainbridge and stoic defending from all North’s players, Otley managed one unconverted try to bring the game back to 17-11. North’s nerves were calmed when good work from Nathan Cannel released Matty Bell for a breakaway try down the right wing, again the conversion drifted wide. With the visitors wilting North ran in 2 more tries, both forward orientated and led by Paul Dennison. Captain Paul Dixon claiming both tries and finished the second try with a ‘Chris Ashton’ like swan dive over the line. Tomling converting both tries to end the game 36-11

At the moment North 1st team do not have a fixture confirmation for next week.