GOOD AWAY WIN

Northallerton 1st team kicked off the league season with an impressive 6-13 win away at Baildon.
North fielded a mixed team with at least 6 of last years regulars either still playing cricket, injured or trimming trees (Renno).
This meant a start for 17 year old Jedd Bainbridge who is hopefully destined to be a first team regular for many years providing he carries on training and learning. There were also first ever starts for twin brothers Jeremy and Fraser Deas, along with an appearance for 17 year old Jack Barker, son of club legend Ben Barker.

It was Bainbridge who scored the first try following a crunching tackle from vice captain Lee Peake, where upon new boy Jonny Frank scooped up the loose ball before feeding Bainbridge to score out wide.
Baildon bounced back and pressured the North line on numerous occasions. Good defensive work again from Peake and Ben Merritt kept the home team at bay. Baildon did however manage a long range penalty just before half time to reduce the deficit to 3-5 at half time.
North increased their lead ten minutes after the break with an opportunistic try from Fireman Sam Hopkins, who collected a dropped ball by the Baildon fly half and just scrambled over the line. With the conversion drifting wide, North now led by 3-10.
Baildon again came back into the game and scored a second penalty while Northallerton were down to 14 men as Peake was receiving treatment after an off the ball incident.
With only 4 points separating the teams North held their nerve and kept Baildon mostly in their own have thanks to some excellent clearance kicking from Captain Joe Terry. With less than five minute remaining Bainbridge put the game to bed with a long range penalty from near the touch line.
Lee Peake just edged out Bainbridge for the man of the match award.

Next week Norths first team are at home to Hemsworth, 3pm kick off.

Sent from my iPad.