ONE STEP TOO FAR

JUST A SHORT REPORT AS BIT DEPRESED + BIT HUNGOVER!

Northallerton's season ended in disappointment with a 18-13 defeat to Wetherby in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy final.
Northallerton were missing 3 of there most influential players from last weeks Twickenham outing but still put in a commendable performance.
It was Wetherby who started the better and took the lead with a penalty after five minutes. Ten minutes later things went from bad to worse when Wetherby intercepted a loose pass in their own half before running nearly three quarters of the pitch to score a converted try.
North now faced an uphill battle being ten points down and Wetherby being surprisingly dominant in the scrum.
North also suffered a devastating injury to James Hopkin who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder following a massive hit on his opposite number.
Soon after North were forced to make yet another change when Rob Barnard also had to be replaced due to injury.
North to their credit began to fight back and scored a difficult 40 yard penalty through captain Joe Terry.
Just before half time North got right back into the game with a catch and drive line out that resulted in a unconverted try in the corner for Jeremy Deas.
At half time things were looking promising for the second half with the teams going in at 10-8.
North were forced to make yet another two changes at half time with Terry suffering a knee injury to be replaced by Doug Mulholland and Phil Swall being replaced by James Baker.
Five minutes into the second half Wetherby scored an unconverted try in the corner after some missed tackles by Northallerton in midfield.
Ten minutes later Northallerton's ill discipline cost them again when Wetherby scored a penalty to take a 18-8 lead. North then lost winger Jonny Frank with concussion after a knock to the head, but managed reintroduce Joe Terry to the game with a heavily strapped right knee.
North come back into the game with a try from stalwart prop Paul Dixon who touched down after a fifteen yard rolling maul.
North then spent the next twenty five minutes camped mostly inside the Wetherby 22 looking for the game winning try. North had three or four opportunities to score, but some solid defending, combined with bad decision making by North, ended with Wetherby just holding out to the final whistle.
Despite Northallerton falling at the final hurdle in two consecutive finals, confidence is high that next season they will continue to show even more improvement and also hopefully attract more players.