15 BRAVE MEN!

Northallerton travelled to Baildon with a depleted team through injuries, and with only one substitute, instead of the usual three allowed. This was due to numerous second team players unwilling to travel away, despite the 2nd’s game being cancelled.

Despite this setback, North’s committed players put in an exceptional performance, especially in the second half, to emerge triumphant 8-11.

North struggled slightly in the first half but managed to keep their discipline and defend tenaciously. Even second row player Dongsdale managed to avoid the referee’s wrath and also avoid his customary yellow card. It was the opposition however who grew frustrated with North’s unyielding tackling and gave away two kickable penalties, both put over by the flashy boot of Andrew Fishbum. However, Fishbum uncharacteristically for him also missed two other kicks at goal, which on another day he would have easily got. With North now gaining the upper hand, back rower Diego Stone went over for what looked like a perfectly good try, only for the referee to disallow. For some inexplicable reason North then switched off, allowing the home team back into the game via a breakaway try and a very questionable penalty just before half time. Half time 8-6 to Baildon.

It was however in the second half when Northallerton showed their true team spirit and camaraderie to persistently thwart every Baildon attack and also look dangerous on the counter attack. Full back Fishbum was again unlucky as a penalty kick drifted just wide, and Captain Paul Dixon was also unlucky to have a try disallowed for not grounding the ball correctly (dropped!). With Ian Duffus and Tom Hobson both having a remarkable game in the unfamiliar role of centres, compared to their usual back row positions, North continued to press for the elusive match winning try. Then four minutes from time the ubiquitous centre Duffus, who had produced numerous ground making breaks throughout the game, collected the ball from rampaging prop Paul Dennison, before crashing through three tacklers, dragging one player with him to score in the corner. North managed to hang on in a tense and nervous final couple of minutes, to see the game out for their third consecutive victory!