LAST MINUTE SAVIOUR

Northallerton 1st team hosted Old Rishworthians in an even and hard fought game at Brompton Lodge that ended square at 10-10.

Northallerton started the game stronger and had the lion’s share of the ball in the first 30 minutes and had 2 or 3 good chances to score. Unfortunately the final pass was either astray or the wrong option chosen, allowing the visitors to snuff out any danger and clear the ball. Then on 30 minutes with Rishworthians first foray into North’s half they came away with an unconverted try, due partly to North suffering a momentary lapse in concentration and the visitor’s quick thinking to score out wide. North tried in vain to get back into the game, but with North not being as dominant as usual in the scrum they were struggling to get any clean ball available for their backs. Half time 0-5

North made a tactical substitution at half time, replacing the elderly and tiring Nicholas Bainbridge with hooker Paul Dennison. North were still struggling in their set plays but looking to get wingers Rhys Kilbride and Ian Duffus more involved at any opportunity. Ten minutes into the half a superb move between James Reed and Dougie Mulholland released Kilbride just inside the visitors half. Kilbride proceeded to out pace his opposite number and the covering full back to touch down out wide. However, just as Kilbride had touched the ball down, the chasing full back followed through and appeared to catch the scorer in the side of his head with his knee. The referee though missed this infringement which could have been a penalty try in front of the posts. The conversion from near the touchline fell just wide and short. With the scores even at 5-5 both teams neutralised each other with only the odd glimpse of promise. North then substituted the injured Richard Lonsdale (before he got a card) for the younger Dennison brother, Martin. Within three minutes of coming on though, the replacement found himself on the receiving end of a yellow card for being off his feet at a ruck and attempting to play the ball with his hands. Soon after that the visitors were awarded a scrum on North’s 5 metre line. Being a man down and still struggling in the scums, the ball squirmed out of the side, allowing Rishworthians flanker to pick the ball up and touch down unopposed. North tried desperately to get the ball up field but as soon as they cleared the ball, the visitors seemed to return it back into North’s 22 immediately. With the 80 minutes up and North struggling on their own try line, it looked like the game was over. Mulholland then threw a long looping pass out to Kilbride, who ran from his own try line to the oppositions 22 line before off loading to the supporting Duffus who seemed to be running in quicksand, before just managing to stumble over the try line and even up the scores. As the conversion attempt drifted wide the referee blew for full time 10-10.
Special mention should go to Russ Heyward for lasting the whole 80 minutes and not getting a yellow card, and also for not trying to hit anyone!

Next week Northallerton 1sts are away at Hessle.