It was a big weekend of rugby for Northallerton RUFC. Their ladies’ first XV had made the semi final of the Junior Cup and hosted visitor’s Sandal RUFC for what would undoubtedly be a tough game. The men were continuing their league campaign at home as well to Baildon RUFC, looking to gather some more crucial points as the season heads into the last few matches.

The ladies’ first XV took part in one of their biggest games in recent years. Visiting side Sandal faced an energetic and determined side backed up by banks of spectators in good voice. This barrage of noise did little to put off the away side who attacked with ruthless precision in the wider channels. Their threatening backs made an immediate impact scoring an unconverted try to take an early lead. Captain Abby Rollings led the charge for North to bring them back into the game. A wave of heavy carrying from the forwards brought the hosts to within striking
distance and when a penalty infringement at the breakdown occurred, Rollings reacted quickest to tap the ball and dive over for the equalising score. Flyhalf Ellie Readman kicked the conversion to take North into the lead.
Sandal were undeterred and looked to probe the width of the pitch. A well-organised side with plenty of motivation they demonstrated the skills that had taken them to this semi-final. Moving the ball with fluidity, the visitors posed many difficult questions for the North defence to answer. Three tries in a row took Sandal into a commanding lead that the hosts struggled to overcome. Never a side to be subdued for long,
North set about working their way up the pitch and finished off the play with a trademark run from Gina Fothergill as she powered her way over the try line to bring hope to the hosts. Sandal had the last say in the half though and scored another try in similar fashion to their earlier scores to close the half out with a lead of 12-29.
The second began with North rejuvenated and taking the fight to the away side. A wonderful solo try from Readman from well inside her own half, weaving her way through the tackles proved the be the highlight of North’s day. The third quarter of the match was fiercely contested between the two sides, neither refusing to yield an inch. It felt like the next score would prove to be the decisive one as North seemed to be building back into the match. However, a good break from Sandal brought to them the crucial score that took them beyond two converted tries in front. An unfortunate head to head tackle reduced North to fourteen players and from here the dam was broken open. Losing a player in their backline had opened up the spaces needed for Sandal to run free and they duly obliged with a four try scoring spree inside the last fifteen minutes to secure the victory and their ticket to the cup final.
The game ended with a final score of Northallerton 17 – Sandal 58. A valiant effort from North’s ladies and a masterclass in running backline rugby from Sandal that made for a memorable day. Congratulations to Sandal and best of luck in the final, a huge day of pride for North’s ladies who have played incredibly well to reach this stage of the competition. Valuable experience in the bank for future years no doubt.
Many thanks to the referee and assistant referees for officiating the match, to Sandal for travelling in good numbers, and to all the volunteers, helpers and supporters who make the day happen.

The men of North’s first XV knew the threat likely posed to them by visitors Baildon RUFC. Often coming unstuck against the pacey back line that Baildon possess, North looked to get off to a flying start. A penalty kicked into the corner allowed an early opportunity for a catch and drive attack. Deciding to hold off from engaging the maul turned out to be a poor decision from Baildon as number eight Iain Swall caught the ball, turned and ran straight through the tacklers to dive over the line and score the opening try in the corner.
Baildon were quick to hit back though and, using their powerful carriers, they smashed through the tackles in the midfield to score next to the posts, a converted try that will rankle with the much improved defence of the home side this season. The first half passed with Northallerton dominating their usual phases of the game, the set piece scrum and lineout proved a typical source of strength and, whilst there were many good attacking opportunities for the home side, it took until the end of the first half to get over the line. A defensive five-metre lineout for Baildon was judged to be thrown not straight, offering a free kick to North which was quickly tapped by Phil Swall who drove to within an inch of the line. The ball was then picked up by flanker Matty Clark who pushed through a gap to get over the line. The conversion was kicked to extend North’s lead. Attacking endeavour from both sides had made the first half entertaining, if low scoring.
The second half brought more entertaining rugby as Baildon looked to their strengths to turn the game. A key focus of their attack was the inside centre, who proved a handful to stop all throughout the day. Getting his team on the front foot, he popped the ball out of a tackle to set the winger loose. Skipping though a couple of tackles, the ball was grounded in the corner for their second try to make honours even.
North’s strength at the scrum and lineout proved unable to halt the attacking flow of the visitors who, with a succession of a off loads out of the tackle, broke through North’s defence and powered over to take the lead with an unconverted try. The hosts saw the game in the balance and soon set about their game plan to find another try. Kicking to the corner once again, the ball was taken to ground and from there, the gristle of the forward pack drove the ball over the line for the equalising score. The rain and wind had intensified significantly throughout the second half and was affecting the play to a great extent. An increased number of knock-ons and fumbles made for a broken flow to the game, suiting North’s game plan.
In the last ten minutes of the game, the sunshine came back and Baildon made hay whilst they could. Spreading the ball to the wider channels they found spaces to be exploited and scored two tries in quick succession to take the victory at the last. The game ended with a final score of Northallerton 17 – Baildon 29. A tremendous effort from the lads and an entertaining game for the many spectators on the touchline braving the weather. Many thanks to the referee for officiating the match, to Baildon for travelling in good numbers and to all of the volunteers who help make the game happen.