1st Team v Baildon

Northallerton hosted Baildon this week on a foggy day in North Yorkshire. Baildon arrived with a young squad who looked like they would try to exploit Northallerton's apparent lack of backs. With last weeks hero Pat Hebblethwaite away nursing his ribs Doug Mullholland celebrated the birth of his son with a return to 1st team action at scrum half with the only other backs change seeing the return of Chris McEneany for John Logan who was away wearing a skirt to a rugby match in Newcastle!

6 minutes in and the forwards got their first chance to set the tone for the afternoon with the opening scrum of the game. They drove the Baildon pack back over the ball and won the penalty. The next 15 minutes were evenly balanced as both teams took their time weighing up their opposition. Stand off Jedd Bainbridge released centre Jonny Franks into a gap in the Baildon defence which he burst through and beat a couple more defenders before being hauled down for a 20 metre gain. Baildon hands in the ruck gave North the penalty and the chance to kick to the corner and set up a rolling maul. Joe Osleton took possession of the ball at the back of the maul and the forwards drove over the line for him to touch down. Sadly for North he injured a rib in the act and had to be replaced. The relief of the Baildon squads faces was clear to see as the bulky bearded prop left the field, those faces soon changed as the bulkier beardier Craig 'nasty' Naisby strode onto the park. While this behemoth made his way to his position Ian McLeod slotted the conversion. 7-0 North.

With Northallertons forwards beginning to make their weight advantage tell Bainbridge again set one of his centres free to have a run with the ball. This time Joe Grieff crashed the ball up the middle overpowering his opposite number, 2 phases later North were camped on the Baildon try line and phase after phase of pick and go led to a Baildon mistake and the ref had no option but to award Northallerton a scrum 5 metres out. Being so close to the kitchen for so long finally took its toll on Naisby and he had to leave the field for "treatment". Debs Morgan quickly administered a burger while Osleton replaced Naisby to see the half out. Baildons scrum was driven back and the penalty try awarded, McLeod converted to make the score 14-0 at half time.

With Naisby fully recovered the 2nd half commenced and promptly turned into a reasonably drab affair with Northallerton using their obvious advantage in the forwards to stifle Baildon and starve their backs of any ball to play with. After about 20 mins of the 2nd half Northallerton captain Lee Peake collected a kick and charged up the left wing trampling over the Baildon winger on his way. The ball was turned over and Baildon took the opportunity to get the ball to their backs. They spun the ball wide and looked like they would make some serious inroads into the North half when their winger spotted Tom Cornforth on the Northallerton wing, with the prospect of being the next victim of the notorious Cornforth Crunch, dropped the ball.

With 65 minutes on the clock North set up another driving maul this time with full back McLeod holding the ball who touched down on the right and promptly converted his own try. After another 10 minutes North once again went through the phases in the forwards picking and driving the tiring Baildon pack backwards towards their line. Dave Lawrence grabbed his first try of the season to give North the bonus point. McLeod again converted to cap a perfect day with the boot and take his personal tally to 13 for the game. North seemed happy to run down the clock and see the game out when a loose kick was collected by the Baildon full back, he broke through and sidestepped his way past 2 then 3 North defenders to cross in the corner ruining an otherwise excellent defensive performance form North but giving Baildon something to go home with after putting a good shift in against a well drilled Northallerton side.
FINAL SCORE NORTHALLERTON 28-5 BAILDON

This week Northallerton 1st XV have a long trip to Stocksbridge and the 2nd XV host Richmondshire.

With the club house refurb complete now the kitchen will be open for business for all games at Brompton Lodge serving locally sourced food for supporters throughout the afternoon and after the games.