WALDOS FAREWELL

Northallerton 1st team hosted table toppers Goole at home and fell to a poor 7-36 defeat, this was their 4th defeat on the trot and 3rd consecutive loss at home since the turn of the year.
North started the game on the front foot and were pressurising the visitors try line for the first ten minutes before Goole could eventually clear their lines with a long kick downfield, aided by a strong prevailing wind. North then suffered a devastating blow with the loss of the hugely influential Joe Terry with a nasty looking knee injury. The rest of the half was mostly one way traffic as Goole ran in four unanswered tries and two conversions to go in at the break 0-24 in front.
North tried to use the strong wind at their backs in the second half but the visitors looked comfortable under the high ball and also more than useful in passing the ball around their capable backs. North gave themselves a glimmer of hope from a fine try from Greg Aspin, who was set up following excellent work from Canadian Marc Waldon, Alec Porter Jnr added the conversion from the touchline. Goole were unfazed by this minor setback and continued with their well drilled moves, and their disciplined forwards were giving away few, if any penalties. North to their credit matched Goole for most of the second half, aided by a vociferous fat bloke called Robinson on the touchline. The visitors though could only manage one try directly under the posts to seal the win. North awarded Mountie Marc Waldon man of the match in his last ever appearance for the club. Due to his visa being expired, he has to return home to Canadia(?) to hunt moose and fell trees, and will be greatly missed by all of Northallerton RUFC.
Next week North take a break from league action and entertain Wetherby at home in a cup fixture. Hopefully North will be able to return to their early season form and rejuvenate their season, kick off is at 2.15pm

Northallerton 2nds travelled to play West Hartlepool with a full 15, plus Renno - who turned up 20 minutes after kick off, but North still totally out played the home team in a 44-0 victory.
North's tries came from Chris Hustler, Smokin Joe Frazier, Giles Drew, Paul Dennison and 2 for late arrival Tom Rennison. Brian Tucker completed the scoring with four conversions and two penalties, which may be rewarded with a 1st team call up in the near future.
Northallerton 2nd team welcomed back scrum half James Read from his well documented Artic adventures and showed no sign of fatigue or snow blindness, with a wide and varied display of passing and link up play with both forwards and backs.
North were well in control throughout the game but took their foot off the gas slightly in the second half after building up a 29-0 lead by half time.
In the second half Hartlepool came more into the game and used their large squad to rotate and keep the team fresh. Only some exceptional defending from the whole Northallerton team, even Gareth Essex and Ben Merrit tackled to keep the home team at bay.
Next week North 2nds entertain Wensleydale at Brompton Lodge.

Northallerton 3rd team were badly let down by 4 no shows for their 5-29 home defeat to Middlesbrough 4ths.
Boro sportingly loaned North two players, one being ex Northallerton club stalwart Mike 'Evo' Evans. North 3rds also called on first team substitute Gareth Norton to bolster their options. Despite having these 2 soldiers of fortune on the pitch, North came up against a strong Boro team who have been enjoying a good season led by their ex 2nd team Captain and veteran lock Paul 'Jonno' Johnson.
North's scoring opportunities were few and far between as Boro kept possession for long periods and made only a few handling errors, which North could not capitalise on.
North's only try came from Hugh Hamilton who arrived midway through the second half and made an immediate impact, but this proved to be too little too late.
Next week North 3rds are awaiting fixture confirmation.

Sorry for anything missed out but I have the hangover from hell thanks to Marc Waldon!!!