LAST MINUTE EUPHORIA

Northallerton 1st team hosted early league leaders Old Grovians at home and snatched a last minute try to earn a 26-25 victory. After last weeks depressing defeat at Aireborough with the last kick of the game, this proved to be the absolute reversal of emotions for Northallerton.
The game was a highly exciting encounter with both teams exchanging scores frequently and the lead changing hands on numerous occasions.
North started off brightly and pressed the visitors from the off. After fifteen minutes Grovians winger was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on his opposite number. North pressed home the advantage with a try after 15 minutes from hooker Jonny Baker. The visitors to their credit came straight back at North, and despite being a man down, forced over a long range penalty to come back to 5-3. After the reintroduction of their winger, Grovians started to reassert themselves more and looked the more threatening. Just after the half hour mark, the visitors scored a try out wide following a glaring error in midfield by North. Again a North showed their 'mettle' by replying with a try from Ian Swall, converted by Patrick Hebblethwaite. Just before half time, Grovians came to within a point with a penalty of their own.
Half time - 12-11 to Northallerton.

North made a change at half time, introducing 18 year old Lewis Hogg for his first team debut on the wing. Five minutes into the second half, a kick through by captain Joe Terry, was fumbled by the Grovians full back due to pressure from the chasing Hogg. In the resulting scramble, Jonny Franks pounced to scoop the ball up and score. Hebblethwaite again with the conversion gave North a healthy looking 8 point lead.
North for some reason then took their foot off the gas and deviated from their game plan that had been working well for most of the afternoon. This allowed Grovians to score two quick tries, both converted, to go back into the lead by 6 points.
For the last ten minutes Northallerton were camped five yards from the visitors try line and spurned chance after chance to score. Less than five minutes from time and with a penalty try being very close to being awarded, North again lost possession allowing Grovians to clear. From the ensuing line-out however, North drove the maul nearly 20 yards before Terry crashed over the try line. Hebblethwaite displayed calmness and composure to nonchalantly stroke the conversion through the posts for the winning score and also to earn the man of the match.
Next week North 1sts are again at home, this time to Harrogate Pythons, kick off 3pm.

Northallerton's second team game had to be cancelled as Middlesbrough could not raise a team. Next week North 2nds are scheduled to play away at Billingham.

Northallerton 3rd team played their first game of the season at home to Darlington Crusaders and ran out 32-12 winners.
Norths tries came from from Alan Fishburn, Giles Drew and Fred Starry, plus one apiece for promising props Matty Wheeler and Andy Ryder. Fishburn converted four of the five tries to earn himself man of the match. Next week North 3rds hope to continue their winning start away at Barnard Castle.