FROM THE TOUCHLINE – Saturday 5th October

Today we welcome North East rivals Billingham who also bring with them their 2nd team who will be kicking off on the riverside field at 2.30.p.m.
Last season Billingham completed the double over us in two highly competitive matches, clinching their home victory with the final play of the game touching down between the posts to give them a narrow two point victory.
Currently Billingham sit top of the table undefeated on 19 points followed by ourselves on 16 points, we having lost a close game at Blackburn after leading until the last five minutes.   Close behind us are Macclesfield and Harrogate with the latter having a game in hand due to last week’s cancellation because of adverse pitch conditions at Carlisle.   The league sees ourselves, Billingham and Harrogate in the top four the only alteration from last season being relegated Macclesfield taking the place of last season’s promotion side Hull.
On our travels last week we went to Wirral and came away with a narrow 19 – 15 victory which saw Harry Borthwick on his return from injury score the match winning try with 15 minutes to go.   Other players returning last week were Cam Bell bulking up the front row and Jack Appleton on the wing having just returned from The States and scoring the opening try.   Our third try was scored by Fred Lockwood with Nathan Horsfall getting two conversions.
This coming Friday 4th October sees the first round of the new Vets Cup when we entertain Darlington at 7.00.p.m.   Please come along and see how the game used to be played 20 years ago!
Last Sunday our highly successful U16’s accounted for Durham City at Hollow Drift in the first round of the cup and now meet Sunderland on Sunday 17th November.
Finally, the World Cup is now well under way and we hope Sharon our House Manageress is enjoying her trip to Japan with her family.   We wish our former player Mark Wilson every success on England duty.
Just a note on future events the ANNUAL BONFIRE EXTRAVAGANZA will be taking place on Saturday 2nd November and any help would be much appreciated.   Please contact Bruce Costello our Chairman.
Jim Huxley