HOME WIN VS SKIPTON

For the fourth week on the trot Northallerton had a full three teams available for the weekend fixtures.
North 1st team hosted mid table Skipton at home, desperate to get their season back on track, and fought hard for a well deserved 16-11 victory.
North struggled early on and fell behind to a well worked Skipton backs try that had all the characteristics of their coach, and ex North player Mike Beech. North then proceeded to play to their own strengths with good work from Tom Hamplett and debuting Danny Grainger.
North got their just rewards with an unconverted try just before half time through reliable winger Greg Aspin. Half time 5-5
North made a couple of changes in the second half introducing a sleepy Adam Massey and Canadian Marc Waldon. Theses changes forced Skipton into conceding numerous penalties, two of which were converted by the trusty boot of Dan Luck. North were then gifted a try by a mix up in the visitors defence, allowing Martin Connor to swan dive over the whitewash and touch the ball down. North then brought on Nic Bainbridge for his customary 15 minute cameo appearance and he was then penalised at the first scrum - surprise suprise!!!
The visitors, now 16-5 down pressured North for the last fifteen minutes but thanks to some excellent teamwork their only reward was two late penalties for a bonus losing point.
Next week North travel to play Harrogate Pythons away.

Northallerton 2nd were also at home, but to a Darlington Mowden Park XV in a high scoring 52-12 victory. Northallerton fielded a bare 15 due to three players arriving twenty minutes after kick off. This meant late call ups for veterans/spectators Andy Clarke and H Johnson (me) who both had to start. The game started off at an extremely frenetic pace for the first fifteen minutes before eventually calming down. North got 2 first half tries from Clarke and John Harker, with the visitors also scoring two but converting one, to go in at the break 10-12 ahead.
North then introduced the fresh legs of Rob Barnard and Hugh Hamilton for the weary Johnson and Clarke. Darlington were also reduced to fourteen men due to injuries and no remaining substitutes. The second half became a one sided affair as North ran away with the game with two more tries for Harker, and a try apiece for Hamilton, Paul Dennison, Dafid Howell-Williams and Brian Tucker. Tucker with all six second half conversions.
Next week North 2nds make the trip to Billingham.

Northallerton 3rd team travelled to play Darlington and fell to a 45-12 defeat.
North points came from a superb individual try from birthday boy 45 year old, Rob Close, and a try plus conversion from Gareth Essex. North also welcomed the return of OAP veterans Paul Cuthbert, Glenn Redding and John Stanley.
Next week North 3rds are at home to Horden 3rds and are hopeful more young and old (Robbo) ex-players will return to bolster numbers for the remainder of the season.

H Johnson
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