Firstly an apology is due for Miss Nat Gardiner after last weeks comment about her being 40 - I have been told she is not a day over 35 - apparently????

Northallerton 1st and 2nd teams both travelled away to Guisborough in a double header, and both returned with close fought victories.
Northallerton 1st teams fixture was the first round of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy against a team who are currently top of Durham/Northumberland 2 with 5 wins out of 5. While the second team fixture was a Merit League encounter again against a team having a so far successful season.
Northallerton first team started out the faster and pressed Guisboro back into their own 22 for the first ten minutes. The home team though defended well and slowly worked their way up the field and were rewarded with a penalty after 12 minutes to give them a 3-0 lead.
After 25 minutes Jeremy Deas was yellow carded for having a rest and lie down on the wrong side of a ruck.
Despite being down to 14 men it was North who scored next following a trademark rampaging run by James Hopkin. Once Hoppy got his short wheel base going there was no stopping him as he bounced the defending number seven into next week, before freeing up Jed Bainbridge to score in the corner. Bainbridge added the conversion from an acute angle to give North a 3-7 lead.
Straight from the restart North gifted Boro a try when they missed two tackles out wide allowing the home team to take a 8-7 lead.
Two minutes later the game swung again when Bainbridge converted an easy penalty in front of the posts.
Two minutes before half time a break from crazy legs Matthew Marsay followed by a spectacular off load to Ashley Rio let Hopkin in for a well deserved try for prop come winger. Bainbridge somehow managed to get the conversion slap between the posts despite being adjacent to the sideline.
On the stroke of half time and full of confidence, Bainbridge attempted another penalty from over 40 yards out but his effort struck the upright.
Half time 8-17.
One minute into the second half and Phil Swall suffered an unfortunate injury and had to be replaced by ex Ampleforth Monk, Alex Rogers for his debut.
Five minutes into the second half their was a lengthy stoppage of over twenty minutes while a Guisboro player was treated for a possible head/neck injury before being stretchered off. All at Northallerton wish the player a speedy recovery.
When play was restarted the home team began to take control and were rewarded with a dubious penalty despite it appearing that Boro knocked the ball on from a line-out.
On the hour mark Norths troubles increased when Bainbridge was yellow carded for using his feet in a ruck. This time Guisboro took advantage of their extra player to run in a converted try and take a 18-17 lead.
After 67 minutes North we’re awarded a penalty just inside the Boro half. With Bainbridge still in the sin bin, Rio stepped up and used all of his 17 stones to gracefully convert the penalty and take a one point lead.
When North returned to 15 men for the last ten minutes they managed to stifle most of the home teams attacks before grinding out the win 18-20.
This was by far the hardest game of the season so far for North and they will hopefully learn to cut out minor errors but gain confidence from the victory.
Man of the match was awarded to Dom Dalby.
Next week North resume league fixtures and travel away to Wetherby, kick off at 3pm, however this may be changed to a home game league + cup double header. Please check all National and local sites for more information,
Fish and chips at 1pm for non players and 7pm-ish for anyone else - some will maybe go twice?

Northallerton seconds only travelled with 12 men but the home team were gracious enough to loan North a couple of players. In hindsight that may have been a error as North managed to out score the opposition by 5 tries to 3.
North gave debuts to a number of players one being ex first team fly half Marc Thierts’ son Ethan who was last seen as a chubby, ginger 7 year old running around annoying people - over 15 years later he’s not changed much except that he’s thankfully only annoying the opposition on the pitch.
Norths tries came from Ethan Thiert(2), - although some thought it was the svelte figure of Joe Osleton dashing over the try line, Sandy Gray, Graham ‘upside down head’ Currigan and Jack Tarte. Jason Bellion added one very professional looking conversion. Again this game had a hold up as a Boro player suffered a nasty cut to his knee, hopefully a few stitches and the player will be back in a few weeks. Final score 27-17. Next week Northallerton seconds are hopefully at home to Sedgefield.

Regards

H Johnson

In Portugal ?? ?

Northallerton Rugby Club

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