ROBBO - THE FUTURE?

Northallerton 1st team travelled to Aireborough and fell to a highly disappointing 30-15 defeat. It wasn’t the defeat that was disappointing more the nature of the performance. This was North’s third successive defeat and they struggled all afternoon against a much larger pack that were dominant all over the park.

Straight from the off the home teams huge set of forwards took control and within the first fifteen minutes North were 15-0 down and facing an uphill battle to get back in the game. By half time North had conceded another try and a penalty, with only a solitary penalty by Dan Luck in response, to go in at the break trailing 25-3.

At half time North brought on substitute Steven Robinson, who looks like he could have a long future in the first team. Robinson immediately fired up the North pack and encouraged them to play simple rugby. North proceeded to keep the ball tight and away from the larger opposition. Whenever the Boro forwards threatened to steal North ball, scrum half James Read would ship the ball to Luck or Dougie Mulholland to clear down field. These tactics enabled North to get a slight foot hold in the game when North stole a lineout on the Boro 5 yard line, from which Robinson got his second try in consecutive games. Luck added the conversion to take the scores to 25-10. The home team still had the upper hand whenever they had the ball, and proceeded to drive North back into their own 22 on numerous occasions. It was another long rolling maul that led to Boros final try that put the nail into North’s coffin. With still 20 minutes left North looked defeated and dejected fearing the largest defeat of the season looming. However, some heroic defending kept the home team at bay and even led to a late consolation try for the curly haired winger Ian Duffus. Final score 30-15.

Next week Northallerton 1st team are at home to Baildon.