BUS TRIP

Northallerton 1st team travelled to Wath upon Dearne on a warm and sunny day for their final away game of the season.
North gave a seasonal debut for youngsters Steven Robinson and Nathan Cannell who both produced displays of quality years above their age and experience. Despite this North fell to their 9th away defeat of the season - the worst in the league, by 15-9.
North did however start off brightly with Robinson and chunky Mike Rhodes leading a defiant and spirited pack of forwards who looked keen for a physical afternoon. Even second row lock Richard Lonsdale was being spirited and competitive without getting his usual yellow card. North also looked capable of scoring on the odd occasion the ball was shipped out wide to speedy winger Reese Kilbride, but covering defence by Wath snuffed out Kilbride twice. Fly half Tucker had more luck with his first penalty attempt after 10 minutes which sailed over from 30 yards out. Wath came straight back at North and looked close to scoring on numerous attempts before last ditch tackling by Peake and Sanderson saved the day. After 30 minutes the heat was beginning to tell on North when they 'switched off' for a minute as Wath took a quick tap penalty and raced away to score in the corner. North spent the remaining minutes to half time desperately defending their try line as Wath attempted to increase their lead. HALF TIME 5-3

Again Wath started the second half on the attack with North still looking fatigued, and it paid dividends with another try out wide for their winger. This seemed to give North their second wind and following a rousing speech from Captain Dixon, produced some of their best rugby of the game. North then got their just reward with two quick penalties from Tucker to bring North back into the game just one point behind. In the space of 5 minutes North suffered two injuries to influential centre Wright and to young winger Wilkinson. Both were a disappointing blow to the visitors who were pressing for the win, as they were forced to use semi retired scrum half James Reed and second row Tom Harper as their replacements. This disrupted North's flow enormously and gave the advantage back to Wath who then scored their third try, again out wide. With time running out North had one more chance when prop come back rower Robinson went on a marauding rampage from his own half before off loading to supporting Kilbride then Peake who was held up three feet from the line. Wath then held on for the remaining two minutes to win 15-9