Saturday at the Lodge witnessed a feast of rugby as Northallerton RUFC fielded both of the men’s senior teams on a glorious, sunny afternoon. The first XV hosted Bramley Phoenix RFC for their rearranged fixture looking to bounce back from a hard run out at Yarnbury the previous week. The second XV entertained local side Richmondshire RUFC second XV, both sides wanting to put on a show for the large crowds gathered on the touchline. This day also saw a momentous occasion for all supporters of Northallerton rugby as, for the first time in the club’s history, a men’s senior team fielded players from our own junior section. Will Robinson and Jacob Fisher both stepped up to play in the men’s second XV having spent many years enjoying their rugby through all of the junior age grades at the club. This marked a moment that will hopefully become a regular feature as the oldest of the club’s junior players look to transition into senior rugby.

The first XV kicked off with North playing down the slope and chomping at the bit to get stuck into the visitors. An early foray into their 22-metre area saw North held up over the try line. From the resulting goal-line drop out Bramley turned the ball over quickly and raced away up field, finding a space on the fringes to score the opening converted try of the game. This pattern repeated almost exactly as North were again
held up over the line and Bramley reclaimed possession to score another try, this time unconverted. The game settled into a tight arm wrestle with both teams fronting up in defence. North’s scrum half and captain for the day Jack Tart found a space around the ruck to dive over after a sustained period of pressure from the hosts for North’s retaliatory score. Fly-half Ollie Walters kicked the conversion from out wide. In reply to this, Bramley put together their own spell of phases, working the ball into North’s half and forcing a penalty at the ruck which they kicked to extend their lead. The game’s tight nature meant that any opportunities had to be taken when presented. Scramble defending from North kept the scoreboard from running away from them as Bramley ran hard in attack looking to press home their advantage. Having survived the onslaught, the home side set about their patterns of play, using their forwards and runners in the backs to crash over the gain line, imposing
themselves upon the visitors. The team showed great patience when camped on the away side’s try line and continued to knock at the door until flanker Callum Poppitt shoved his way through the defence and scored North’s second try of the day, taking the game into half time with the score standing at 12-15.
All to play for. On the resumption of play, North came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. Once again using a direct form of rugby to batter their way over the advantage line and apply pressure to the Bramley pack. Jack Tart found another gap close to the fringes of the ruck and sniped through the bodies to score his second of the day and to put North into the lead. The whispers amongst the spectators of a possible victory were quickly silenced as Bramley hit back with an unconverted try out wide, moving the ball rapidly through the hands after turning possession over inside the North 22-metre area. Not to be disheartened, the hosts worked their way back up the pitch,
the impact from the substitutes helping to keep the momentum going. Winger Ross Easdon scored North’s fourth try, ensuring the bonus point was secured at least as he carved through the middle of the on-rushing tacklers and dotted down beneath the sticks. Walters kicked the conversion. This put the home side back into a slender, four-point lead heading into the last ten minutes of the game. The whispers amongst the spectators were back again, growing bolder by the minute. With the clock counting down, Bramley threw everything into their attack, often looking for the offload that would unlock the brick wall of Northallerton bodies facing them. Throwing caution to the wind, they made a break out wide again but, isolated, provided the opportunity for centre Tom Peacock to make a crucial intervention and force the penalty for holding on at the ruck. This brough jubilation to the team and the supporters who sensed this was a key moment in the game with only minutes left to play. In a moment where everyone else had switched off though, Tart picked up the ball, took a tap penalty and, from well inside his own half raced away up the pitch towards the try line and scored the victory sealing try and his third of the day. Walters kicked the conversion to add the extras as the rest of the team prepared to receive the restart. In the closing seconds of the match, Bramley tried hard to
salvage a losing bonus point but with customary, steely defence, North held them at bay and forced the knock on the brought the game to a close with the final score reading, Northallerton 31 – Bramley Phoenix 20.
A great moment to savour for a team that has stuck together through some tough results this season. Hopefully a springboard to further success as the lads take confidence from a victory well worth waiting for. Many thanks to Bramley Phoenix for travelling in good numbers and playing an entraining match. Thanks also to the referee for officiating the game.

On the other side of the dividing rope, North’s second XV kicked off against Richmondshire’s second XV in a game that promised to be a clash of playing styles. North’s usual mixture of youth and experience provided plenty of pace out wide to counter the size and strength of the Shire pack that they held in high regard. From the kick off, North wasted no time in spinning the ball wide to winger Reece Brammah who stepped outside two defenders and raced away to the corner to score the opening try. Full back Will Adam took advantage of a mismatch shortly after to showcase his footwork and pace, evading tackles to score his first try of the day.
This flurry of scoring had Shire stunned in the backs, despite their early scrum dominance. North’s next try came from their openside flanker Batiulina who stepped past a would-be tackler and charged to the line after a period of pressure from the home side. It wasn’t long before outside centre for the day Baleimoala-Nabou dazzled the spectators with his footwork and speed to leave the defence clutching at thin air as he sprinted clear to add his name to the scoresheet. Mid-way through the first half, North were firmly in the driving seat, making the most
of the wide pitch to utilise the pace on offer and posing difficult questions for Shire’s defence. Centre Keiran Appleton found himself on a wide, arcing run whilst North were attacking deep inside the Shire half and dotted down in the corner. From the resulting restart, Shire managed to reclaim possession and kept the ball tight for their first real attacking phases of the game. Making the most of their size advantage in the forwards, they rumbled slowly down the slope towards North’s try line, inexorably gaining ground with each carry until they crossed the line underneath the posts to score a converted try that got them on the scoreboard. At the half time mark, North held a significant lead heading into the break 31-7 up.
On the resumption of play the home side were straight back to their game plan, this time it was a long kick down the slope that was chased by several players, quickest of all was replacement full back Will Robinson who picked the ball up and backed his pace to take him into the corner for a try on his senior debut. It was the turn of Jake Fisher who was next to get his name on the score sheet. Running a clever support line as North made a break through the middle of the pitch, he took the offload and, with a quick side step to put himself in space he raced away to score a try on his senior debut as well. A great moment for the two lads and a testament to tireless work of the many parents and volunteers of Northallerton RUFC’s junior section who have helped coach all of the club’s younger players. Richmond were eager to get their hands on the ball when possible and used their set piece dominance to achieve this, turning the ball over at the scrum they proceeded to march their way towards the home side’s goal line and, in a similar fashion to their first, scored another converted try to the delight of their many travelling supporters. Will Adam, clearly sensing opportunities amongst a tiring Shire defence, made the most of slight gaps in the next few passages of play to score two, well taken individual tries, scything past multiple defenders to increase North’s lead and wrest momentum back into the home side’s hands. Shire responded with another try of their own, this time unconverted before had the last say of the game through Reece
Brammah who finished as he started, with a try. The match ended with a final score of Northallerton 60 – Richmondshire 19. A very entertaining and well-natured game of rugby that witnessed historical moments for North as hopefully the first of many junior players came through into the senior teams and showcased the level of talent on offer in the years to come.
Many thanks to the Richmondshire players for travelling in good numbers and spirits, to the referee for officiating the match and to the crowds of spectators cheering the teams on. A special thank you must be said as well for the many volunteers who help make enjoyable days like this one at the club happen, it is always appreciated by all.

For any readers who would like to play rugby in Northallerton, the men train on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm, the ladies train on Wednesday 7pm and the juniors play on Sunday 10am. All ages and abilities welcome, please contact the club on social media for more information.