NORTHS AWAY DAY AT GOOLE

Northallerton again had 3 full teams available for the weekend fixtures but a Friday night cancellation by Goole, who were supposedly unable to raise a 2nd team AT HOME, meant North only had two games.
Northallerton 1st team travelled to league leaders Goole more hoping, than believing they could cause an upset, but still managed to put in a very creditable performance before going down 24-5.
North matched the home team for long periods but a couple of handling errors and some indiscipline caused North to go in at the break 14-0 down.
After a rousing half time talk from coach Alec Porter, North started the second half brighter and put the home team on the back foot. North got their just rewards with a unconverted pushover try, touched down by Richard Dennison. Dennison continued to become a constant thorn in Gooles' side as he kept Norths forwards together and linked well with scrum half Horatio Hebblethwaite.
The home side however, defended well and cleared their lines proficiently via the boot of their fly half. The same fly half added a long range penalty to increase their lead to 13 points. In the dying minutes as North pressed to close the gap again, Goole scored a breakaway try under the posts.
Final score 24-5
Next week Northallerton 1st team entertain Skipton at Brompton Lodge, kick off 3pm.

Norths 2nd team also travelled to Goole on the bus even though their game was cancelled, and were vociferous all afternoon cheering the 1st team on.

Northallerton 3rd team hosted Harrogate Pythons at home and were thoroughly over run and out classed by a score of 0-77.
The visitors fielded some very young, fast and well drilled backs, that always seemed to have a man over to finish their moves off. Norths man of the match 47 year old James Sanderson put in an outstanding tackling display and probably stopped the opposition getting into a three figure score.
Despite the score, North showed some promising displays from the returning Ryder brothers, Richard and Andrew, whom together had a combined age of nearly 90 years. Also guesting for North was their younger brother in law Jaco Jansen, who shook off his rustiness to put in a good display. Norths cause wasn't helped by young Barra who was yellow carded 15 minutes from the end, for allegedly throwing his first ever punch in anger - (it was probably aimed at his own teammate!)
North were also, probably missing the attacking flair of Gareth 'Studley' Essex, who will hopefully be back soon.
Next weeks 2nd and 3rd team fixtures have yet to be confirmed.