DONGSDALES FLASHES OF GENIUS

Northallerton first team travelled to Thornensians and despite a valiant second half comeback fell to defeat by a score of 22-19.

North’s forwards dominated proceedings in the scrums but struggled to match the home team’s creativity in the backs.

Thorne’s first try came when the referee missed a blatant knock on at a lineout before it was fed out to the backs to race away with North still appealing in vain. With North still feeling aggrieved at the decision they lost their composure resulting in one player being sin binned and the home team converting the penalty. Now down to 14 men North had to dig deep to keep the home side out, Lee Peake and Liam Lincoln being particularly effective. North were bolstered by the returning carded player and pressured the home teams 22 for 15 minutes. North got their just reward when going for a pushover try, Thorne’s scrum half deliberately came offside to kick the ball away, Mulholland with the conversion. Just when it seemed North were back in the game Thorne scored another try following a mistake between North’s backs, allowing the full back to burst through and score. HALF TIME 15-7

The second half was only ten minutes old when the home team scored their third try again by the deceptively speedy full back, who just managed to outpace our own 'flyer' James Read. This put Thorne 15 points clear and North looking tired and dejected. North received a stirring talk from Captain Richard Dongsdale and proceeded to put together some good flowing rugby. Dongsdale himself, was being particularly effective and showing some FLASHES of genius.

A change round of flankers, putting Lincoln to number 8 was a master stroke, allowing his powerful running from the base of scrums to make good ground. Northallerton were now totally dominating play and going through numerous pick up drives, recycling the ball proficiently. It was through Lincoln that North came back into the game with two similar tries in the last 15 minutes. Both tries came from good forward work involving strong running and effective hand offs for Lincoln to go over the try line twice, Mulholland managing one of the two conversions. With North only three points behind they pressed with non stop intensity for the last few minutes for the winning try, but the home team defended heroically and held out to seal the win. North can draw consolation from a marvellous second half performance and that they also got a deserved bonus point for being within 7 points.

Next week North are at home to Rotherham Phoenix.