GETTING THERE!

Northallerton's poor start to the season continued with a close and undeserved defeat away at Baildon by 20-15.
The early stages of the match were a cagey affair with both teams sizing up the opposition.
Both teams exchanged successful penalties, Norths coming from the reliable boot of Jeff Bainbridge.
The home team then scored two quick tries midway through the first half.
With North struggling in the forwards they sent on Joseph Osleton for his first appearance of the season to add some strength and quite a bit of weight to the pack. This was Osletons first appearance of the season since trying to barbecue his foot in August.
Despite mounting pressure, the home team held on to go in to the break 15-3.
At the start of the second half Northallerton also introduced the bulky Phil Swall for even more oomph up front.
The two changes from North caused the home team all sorts of problems as they started to show some early second half nerves.
The nerves spread through the home team as they were warned by the referee for a 'off the hall incident' and for being repeatedly offside.
In the 60th minute a rolling maul from North was maliciously brought down by a Baildon player who was correctly sin binned for his crime. From the resulting scrum, North pushed the opposition back ten yards before Swall touched down and Bainbridge converted to put North back in the game at 15-10.
Five minutes later from a similar position North again made the 1 man advantage count as Jack Swain touched down for a try out wide. With the conversion missed the scores were tied at 15-15.
Soon after Baildon were back up to full strength and managed to hold North out on numerous occasions.
As North were pressing for another try, Baildon stole the North line out ball, for the first and only time, and ran up field to score in the corner.
Final score 20-15
Next week North are away again, this time at Halifax with a 3pm kick off.

Northallerton 2nd team faired much better with a 34-19 home victory against Wensleydale 2nds.
Norths tries came from Martin Dennison (3), Tom Rennison (2) and prop Gareth Essex. Trevor Mould added two conversions before being injured and handing kicking duties to 50 year old Richard Ryder, who had a unprofitable afternoon with the kicking tee.
After such a entertaining and skilful game some of the second team players, with a bit more commitment, must surely be knocking on the 1st team door.
Next week Northallerton second team are still awaiting fixture confirmation.
I'm off to Portugal now, te vejo em breve.
Thank you H Johnson.