PHOENIX DOWN IN FLAMES

For the second week on the trot Northallerton fielded three full teams with substitutes, a very rare feat at their level of rugby!
Northallerton 1st team entertained high flying Rotherham Phoenix at Brompton Lodge. In a tight and close encounter North edged proceedings with a 16-10 victory.
North opened the scoring with only 50 seconds gone, when Martin Dennison brilliantly ripped the ball off the opposition number 8 before releasing Greg Aspin to race nearly the entire length of the pitch to score in the corner. Soon after Aspin had to leave the pitch with bit of an achey wakey tum tum, and was replaced by Dave Barrett. North then scored another try when a speculative kick through by Johnny Franks was fumbled by the Rotherham full back, allowing Franks to gather up and dive over the try line. The visitors then came back into the game through their dangerous number 7 who went on a long jinking run, avoiding numerous tacklers before scoring.
At the restart there was some confusion as Dougie Mulhollands kick was adjudged to not even cross the half way line before going straight out of play!
Just before half time North extended their lead when Dan Luck eventually found his kicking boots to slot home a penalty.
Half time 13-5
Five minutes into the second half, Luck again put away another penalty give North an 11 point advantage.
Straight from the restart Rotherham pressed North back into their own 22 for ten minutes before eventually rumbling over for another unconverted try.
For the next 20 minutes the visitors out muscled Norths forwards and dominated the line-outs looking for another score. North though showed excellent defensive qualities with Paul Dixon, Marc Waldon and Martin Dennison being prominent. North managed to keep the visitors at bay, and towards the end started to look dangerous themselves. Towards the end Dixon had to be restrained as he was pulling his hair out at some of Norths inabilities to control the visiting forwards.
Final score 16-10
Next week North 1st team make the long coach journey to Goole.

North 2nd team fielded a very strong squad at home to Acklam 2nd team.
Acklam put in a very creditable effort before eventually being over come by North to a score of 24-10.
Even with James Read orchestrating events at scrum half and linking well with Brian Tucker, North took some time to find their feet. Stu Baker was also looking dangerous on the wing before leaving the pitch with a hamstring problem.
Acklam scored a try either side of half time to take a ten point lead before North hit back with tries from Hugh Hamilton, Olly Watts, John Logan and Greg Cockburn. Brian Tucker with two of the conversions.
Next week Norths 2nds are also on the coach trip to Goole.

Northallerton 3rd team travelled to Redcar led by club stalwart Steve Robinson and were unlucky to fall to a 24-7 defeat.
North's only try coming from exciting prospect Matty Wheeler, assisted by another talented youngster, Ben (willy flasher) England, and converted by young Steve Metcalfe.
North also welcomed back Dean Mulholland after hurting his leg about 3 years ago!
North had numerous chances to score throughout, but the final ball let them down and with a little bit more luck could have made the scores a lot closer. North 3rds were also missing prop Tank Bainbridge through injury which would also have helped their cause immensely. And well done to Robbo, that's two weeks on the trot without a card!!!!
North 3rds are yet to confirm an opponent for next week but are hoping to secure a home fixture.