MUCH NEEDED WIN

Northallerton 1st team travelled to fellow strugglers Old Modernians in dire need of a season resurrecting win, and emerged triumphant 20-23.
North had a couple of late cry offs on the morning of the game which didn't help North's cause, as they attempt to rise out of the relegation zone. However, North started off the game much the brighter, and after constant pressure in the home teams 22 North were awarded a penalty which was excellently converted by Mathew Fishbum. Then straight from kick off, good work by father to be James Read-Kendall in robbing his opposite number of the ball before setting up marauding hooker Mike Rhodes for a well worked try. In recent weeks, North had took their foot off the gas when taking the lead, this time though they pressed home their advantage with further tries from Ian Duffus and Don Stone, with Fishbum converting one. Duffus' try being of particular noteworthy mention of brawn over brain. Centre Walden again using his strength and slight guile, looped the ball out to Duffus who burst through and over three attempted tacklers before scoring under the posts. Stones try followed a 20 metre rolling maul instigated and choreographed by Paul Dennison before Stone went over for a try, even though Captain Paul Dixon tried to claim it as his own! Northallerton were now well into the stride and the home team looked shell-shocked and demoralised with North looking capable of running amok. Luckily for the home team the ref blew up for half time about 5 minutes early. Half time 0-20
During half time Old Mods seemed to reorganise themselves and started the second half much improved. After only a couple of minutes of the restart, bad defending by the visitors allowed the home team to go over hardly challenged in the corner. North's game seemed to suffer and their confidence wilt as the home team scored another two tries in the next 15 minutes. Fishbum then scored a long range penalty to slightly steady the 'boat'. Then ten minutes from time, ill discipline again threatened to cost North the game when, from a quick tap penalty Mods caught the visitors napping to score a try 15 metres wide of the posts. With the home team needing the kick to take the lead, the attempt fell just short, as did thankfully all other attempts. Old head and returning soldier of fortune, Andrew Yeates then galvanised North's forwards and commanded them well to slow the game down and grind out the remaining minutes. Final score 20-23