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First XV Match Reports |
| 6 March 2010 GATESHEAD 0 DURHAM CITY 48 After disappointing results in their previous two North 1 East League matches, City roared back with an eight try spree at Gateshead to push themselves back into the top half of the table and ease relegation fears. With Dudley Cortland back at stand-off after injury and full-back Dan Kyle making his first appearance after returning to the club from Blaydon, there was little doubt about the outcome from the kick-off as they piled into the home side, pinning them in their own 22 to score 3 tries and establish a 0 – 19 lead within the first 10 minutes. The first came after 3 minutes when a half-break by Cortland and short pass to AJ Smith put the centre over following a patient build-up through several phases of play. 3 minutes later, a quickly-taken penalty by No 8 Howard Johnson put lock Peter Dent over for the second and then a break by Smith following a lineout sent fellow-centre in for the third and with Kyle converting 2 of them, the win was effectively sealed at that point. But the precision of that opening period then almost inevitably drifted as they tried to force proceedings. Whilst still dominant and with the game played almost exclusively in the Gateshead half, the home defence prevailed as Kyle was held up over the line following a break by flanker Jeff Roberts and a forward drive was just stopped after scrum-half Lewis Groves robbed a Gateshead scrum and broke away. But on the stroke of half-time, the fourth try came when Smith picked up a loose ball and it was moved across field for prop Benny Parkinson to put winger Charlie Plummer over in the corner and stretch the lead to 0 – 24. Quarter of an hour into the second half, Plummer got his second try, finishing off a good attack from a scrum in midfield, and whilst several fine long-range attacks were thwarted by the Gateshead defence, the pressure told in the last few minutes as City ran in a further three tries. A good break by Knowles gave the supporting Cortland the first, a long pass by Johnson put Dent over for his second and finally, Smith broke away down the touchline from halfway to score unopposed under the posts. Kyle converted two of them to round off a dominant performance. Tomorrow, City entertain old rivals Hartlepool Rovers at Hollow Drift (KO 3.00pm) CITY: Dan Kyle; Arnie Stevenson, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Charlie Plummer; Dudley Cortland, Lewis Groves; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Benny Parkinson, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt), Ryan Dawson, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson. Replacements
: Jack Line, Richard Turnbull, Grant Thompson. DURHAM CITY 7 DRIFFIELD 44 After four successive victories which shot them up the North 1 East League, City were brought down to earth with a bump by a Driffield side who controlled in all departments from first to last and thoroughly deserved their big win. In a poor performance, City struggled from the outset. Under pressure in the set pieces and harassed around the fringes in the loose by an eager Driffield side, they were unable to win quick, clean possession whilst the visitors demonstrated an all-round game that the home team were simply unable to match on the day. Driffield led from the 4th minute, poor tackling allowing full-back Lee Birch to go through for their first of six tries, and he quickly followed it up with a simple penalty when City failed to release the ball in the tackle. If the signs that this was not to be City’s day were not clear enough early on, they were confirmed in the 17th minute as they started to get into the game with a good attack on the right, only for Driffield winger Alisdair McClarron to intercept and race clear from his own half for their second try which Birch converted to take their lead to 0 - 15. But although City went straight back to the visitors’ half and enjoyed their best spell of the game with 10 minutes of concentrated pressure, Driffield’s defence was equal to the task, as both City wingers, Alex Sinkinson and Charlie Plummer, in his first match, were forced into touch and the ball was dropped with the line begging on another occasion. Driffield however were creating and taking their chances. Patiently, they went through the several phases of play before replacement winger James Short scooted down the touchline for their third try after 34 minutes, and with Birch converting and then kicking a second penalty, they led 0 - 25 at half-time. 5 minutes into the second period, scrum-half Gray picked up a loose ball at a ruck near the City line and shot over under the posts for Birch to convert, centre Tom Wright added two fine tries late in the half with Birch converting one for a 0 - 44 lead, and for City, the only consolation was a try by full-back Grant Thompson at the death, when he charged down a clearance kick to score under the posts for stand-off Chris Hitchcock, in his first match, to convert. CITY: Grant Thompson; Charlie Plummer, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Alex Sinkinson; Chris Hitchcock, Lewis Groves; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Benny Parkinson, Peter Dent, Stuart Smithson (capt), Darren McKinnon, Richard Turnbull, Ryan Dawson. Replacements: Gareth Malcolm, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson.
PONTEFRACT 10 DURHAM CITY 20 City produced a solid performance in a game that developed into an ill-tempered affair at Pontefract to secure a well-deserved victory and consolidate their sixth position in the North 1 East League. In a first-half played at a fierce pace, it was Pontefract who dominated the opening minutes with City barely able to lay a hand on the ball. But following a dangerous tackle on City winger Richard Turnbull after 8 minutes, they grabbed the initiative when flanker Jeff Roberts charged up the middle and the ball went through three pairs of supporting hands before centre AJ Smith went over for a fine try under the posts. Stand-off Dudley Cortland converted for a 0 - 7 lead. Now City pressed. Centre Richard Knowles and prop Mike Hay were both stopped on the line as they launched a series of attacks and their reward came after 21 minutes, the forwards driving to the line from a lineout 15 metres out and Smith forcing his way over for his second try under the posts when the ball was released to the backs. Cortland again converted to extend the lead to 0 - 14. But strangely, the sin-binning of their hooker Andy Smith for a second high tackle after 26 minutes seemed to act as a spur to Pontefract and they took control until the interval, their reward coming after 35 minutes following a driven lineout when full-back Michael Bateman went over for a good try to reduce City’s advantage to 5 - 14 at half-time. Cortland extended City’s lead to 5 - 20 with a couple of regulation penalties before the hour mark as Pontefract offended in the face of the visitors’ pressure. but the game was now going downhill rapidly as tempers frayed and the scuffles proliferated. A spirited fight-back by the hosts that yielded a try for winger Jonathon Wylie, when he scooted down the touchline to dive over after 5 or 6 phases of play with quarter of an hour left, gave his side hope. The biggest danger to City now however, was indiscipline as the battles continued. But their defence was resolute, a couple of good attacks threatened Pontefract, Cortland was just wide with a long-range drop-goal attempt and in the end they ran out worthy winners Tomorrow, City entertain fifth-placed Driffield at Hollow Drift in another league match (KO 2.15pm) CITY: Grant Thompson; Chris Metcalfe, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Richard Turnbull; Dudley Cortland, Lewis Groves; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Benny Parkinson, Peter Dent, Stuart Smithson (capt), Ryan Dawson, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Mark
Cammiss, Tom Baty, Darren McKinnon.
City will take considerable heart from this victory over Darlington. Not only was it sweet revenge for defeat at home in October, when Darlington came back from the dead to beat them in the last quarter, but it was their third consecutive win, a run which has propelled them from the relegation zone of the North 1 East League to sixth. However, such is the competitive nature of the league this year below the front-runners, that any complacency in the remaining 10 matches could see them plunge as rapidly as they have risen. Down the slope and with the sun and wind behind, Darlington started well, and as early as the 4th minute went ahead with a well-worked try, centre Andrew Pugh breaking to get the touchdown with the City defence stretched after the big home pack had worked the ball downfield through several phases. But although they were in the ascendency in the early stages, they were caught out in the 12th minute when City full-back AJ Smith hoisted a high ball, gathered on the full and raced 30 metres before feeding supporting lock Darren McKinnon for a try that levelled the score at 5 – 5. From that point, City were much more in the game and when they worked the ball up the right side from their own half after 25 minutes, stand-off Dudley Cortland grub-kicked through the home defence, recovered it and from quickly-won possession at the breakdown 10 metres out, hooker John Nichols went over for a fine try which Cortland converted to grab the lead at 5 – 12. But Darlington responded well. A good 70 metre counter-attack took play to the visitors’ line and, with City prop Mike Hay sin-binned, a 5 metre lineout was driven for prop Joe Hargreaves to get the touchdown and reduce the arrears to 10 – 12. A fine 40 metre penalty into the wind by Cortland in the 39th minute gave City a 10 – 15 advantage at the interval however, and with the elements in their favour after they turned round, they piled the pressure on to dominate in terms of territory. For 20 minutes the home defence held, but when City centre Richard Knowles broke away down the right, replacement lock Peter Dent was stopped on the line but popped the ball up for winger Grant Thompson to score in the corner and stretch the lead to 10 – 20. But Darlington were not finished. A bustling attack from deep which took them into City’s 22 for the first time in the second half after 28 minutes ended with a 5 metre scrum and No. 8 Andrew Hodgkins pounced for a try as the ball ran loose over the line. City were not to be denied however. Back they went to the Darlington 22 and although Cortland was unable to convert a couple of penalty chances, he was finally successful from wide out with 7 minutes remaining to take the score to 15 – 23 and a well-deserved win. CITY: AJ. Smith; Grant Thompson, Richard Knowles, Will Kirtley, Alex Sinkinson; Dudley Cortland, Lewis Groves; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Nick Hayes, Stuart Smithson (capt), Darren McKinnon, Richard Turnbull, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson. Replacements:
Ryan Dawson, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent. DURHAM CITY 22 CARLISLE 7 The snow having finally disappeared, City returned to North 1 East League action after a 6 week lay-off with a fine performance that produced 4 tries and might have yielded several more but for some spirited, last- ditch Carlisle defence. With skipper Stuart Smithson back from early-season injury, they grabbed control right from the start when the forwards nudged the Carlisle pack back at the first scrum and a good attack ended with right-winger Chris Metcalfe tackled in the corner. But within 2 minutes of the start they were ahead, when full-back Arnie Stevenson fielded a clearance kick 40 metres out and good inter-passing as they ran left ended with stand-off Dudley Cortland going over for the first try. 5 minutes later, Cortland was at it again, grub-kicking the ball through, gathering and diving over for the second try after the forwards had taken a Carlisle scrum against the head to stretch the lead to 10 – 0. Good defence forced Carlisle centre Jack Oddie into touch 5 metres out when Carlisle finally got their hands on the ball and ran from deep in their own half after 10 minutes, but generally it was a half in which City were almost totally dominant. It came as no surprise therefore when they extended their advantage to 15 – 0 after 24 minutes, the forwards peeling from a lineout 25 metres out and the ball then going along the backs for left-winger Grant Thompson to force his way over for the third try. A penalty kick a minute later might have got the visitors into the game, but stand-off Glen Weightman pushed the ball wide and City quickly re-asserted themselves, a couple of fine breaks by centre Richard Knowles ending respectively with Metcalfe tackled in the corner again and play being taken 60 metres downfield in a sweeping attack to the Carlisle 22. But from a totally dominant first-half performance and a 15 – 0 interval lead, the second half became somewhat scrappy and indisciplined. Multiple replacements, 2 yellow cards and a string of penalties against City allowed Carlisle a far greater share of possession than they had previously had and they ran from everywhere – but to no avail as the home defence was excellent, particularly in the 10 minute periods they were reduced to 14 men. The underlying City control remained however and when they won a ruck on the left after 64 minutes and centre AJ Smith sliced through for their fourth try which Cortland converted, they were home and dry. A fine injury-time try for Carlisle winger Chris Harris converted by Weightman may have been a small consolation for the visitors’ running efforts, but there was no doubt about the worthiness of City’s victory. Tomorrow, City are away to Darlington in another league match (KO. 2.15pm) CITY: Arnie Stevenson; Chris Metcalfe, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Grant Thompson; Dudley Cortland, Lewis Groves; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Stuart Smithson (Capt), Darren McKinnon, Richard Turnbull, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson. Replacements:
Ian Oates, Will Kirtley, Ryan Dawson. DURHAM CITY 25 PERCY PARK 6 City secured vital North 1 East League points with a good performance against Percy Park at Hollow Drift, scoring four tries to move up a couple of places in a table which is very tight in the lower half. Whilst they were under pressure in the set scrums throughout the match, this result was based on solid defence, as there were times when it seemed inevitable that the visitors would score, good loose play by the forwards and penetrative running from broken play by the backs. The loss of winger Richard Knowles to injury in the first couple of minutes might have proved expensive, but his replacement Alex Sinkinson showed himself to be more than adequate as early as the 6th minute as he scampered over in the corner for a try following some big forward drives in the Park 22 to put City 5 – 0 ahead. But for the next quarter of an hour however, it was Park who dominated as they pinned City in their own 22 testing their defence relentlessly, and although the line held, the visitors nevertheless picked up two penalties through full-back Marcus Rutter to take the lead at 5 – 6. However, City then got their second wind, launching some threatening attacks of their own. No.8 Howard Johnson broke away and was supported well by lock Peter Dent, the pack drove, centre Will Kirtley was stopped a metre out and eventually after 34 minutes they got their reward almost by default. Huge pressure on the Park line, with winger Grant Thompson, Johnson and Dent almost getting over ended with the ball being worked wide and somehow fly-hacked into the corner where Sinkinson won a race for the touchdown to record his second try and put them back in front 10 – 6 at the interval. Within 3 minutes of the re-start, City were clear when the forwards turned over Park possession 20 metres out and centre AJ Smith ran strongly to eventually force his way over in the corner for their third try. Stand-off Dudley Cortland converted to stretch the margin to 17 – 6 and 10 minutes later, when Smith broke away on a 40 metre run deep into the Park 22, he was in support to score their fourth try before completing the scoring with a penalty after 68 minutes. But back came the visitors in the last ten minutes as their forwards piled the pressure on and they ran everything in a desperate effort to get back into a game that was by that stage a long way beyond them. However City were in no mood to allow them anything on the day, the defence held firm and they celebrated a good victory. Tomorrow, City travel
to Pontefract for another North1 East fixture (KO 2.00 pm) Replacements:
Alex Sinkinson, Ian Oates, Tom Baty. MORPETH 17 DURHAM CITY 15 This was a contest between evenly-matched sides where the result could have gone either way, but in the end it was Morpeth who prevailed by virtue of one more conversion than the visitors to move above them in the North 1 East League on points- difference. Early Morpeth pressure following a neat chip by home stand-off Matthew Jinks forced City to carry over their own line, but solid defence kept them at bay until the 10th minute when an offence at a ruck 35 metres out allowed Jinks to kick the penalty and take his side into a 3 – 0 lead. Ten minutes later, after a period of City attacks in midfield were nullified by a very flat home defence, they levelled the score when stand-off Dudley Cortland kicked a 25 metre penalty as Morpeth offended at the breakdown. But whilst City appeared to be winning more of the loose ball at this stage and controlling more of the territory, it was Morpeth who were posing the greater threat, with high cross-kicks into space creating problems for the visitors’ defence, notably on one occasion when winger Will Thornton took the ball in midfield and off-loaded to fellow winger Barry Hills who looked to be clear. A good cover tackle by City centre AJ Smith saved the day however, and when they worked their way back to the Morpeth half, they went ahead. Awarded a penalty 40 metres out, they took it quickly and moved the ball wide to the left where AJ Smith produced a determined 35metre run to beat three defenders and score a fine try which Cortland converted to take them into a 10 – 3 lead after 35 minute. But with half-time looming, Morpeth re-doubled their efforts. Another awkward Jinks cross-kick was hacked on to the City line and when the 5 metre scrum that resulted wheeled, No.8 Rory Morrison picked up and dived over for a try which Jinks converted to bring the score back to 10 – 10 at half-time. Ten minutes after the re-start, they were back in the lead courtesy of some poor City defence. Winning the ball in the loose, they ran on the short side and taking the ball wide out, winger Hills stepped inside three tackles to score near the posts, give Jinks a simple conversion and his side a 17 – 10 advantage. But City responded with a period of pressure that saw two or three good attacks before a catch and drive from a 5 metre lineout ended with prop Mark Cammiss forcing his way over for their second try to take the score to 17 – 15. Cortland was unable to convert however, and the last twenty minutes was a tense affair as both sides had opportunities to score, City when they broke away with a big overlap only for the ball to be knocked on, and Morpeth when Hills got over the City line with a determined run but was adjudged to have had a foot in touch. Tomorrow, City entertain
Percy Park at Hollow Drift in another North 1 East League match
(KO 2.15pm) Replacements: James
Balfour, Alex Sinkinson, Grant Thompson.
DURHAM CITY 42 ILKLEY 19 This was a comprehensive North 1 East League victory for City over bottom club Ilkley, with the outcome effectively being determined by a three-try blitz in a 6 minute period in the middle of the first half. With injuries and unavailabilities, they went into the game with a makeshift second-row pairing of Darren McKinnon and Howard Johnson, and as early as the third minute they appeared to have grabbed control when flanker Richard Turnbull was driven over from a 5 metre lineout for their first try which stand-off Dudley Cortland converted from the touchline for a 7 – 0 lead. But Ilkley hit back immediately with a series of drives before lively scrum-half Chad Shepherd went over for full-back Peter Shanks to convert, level the score and take the game into a 20 minute period where either side might have seized the initiative as the game became very open. It was City however who struck in the 25th minute. A quickly-taken free-kick in midfield allowed centre AJ Smith to run wide andc put winger Grant Lowes over from 15 metres out for their second try, and 4 minutes laterfrom a driven lineout, blindside winger Jonny Harding came into the line to make a half-break and pop the ball up for Lowes toscore his second try under the posts. Cortland converted and, rampant now, they ran a penalty awarded to them on their own 22 from the re-start and fashioned a great try. Aj Smith made a lot of ground before inside passes to Cortland and finally full-back Arnie Stevenson ended with a score under the posts. Cortland again converted and suddenly City were 26 – 7 ahead and beyond Ilkley’s reach by half-time. Still it was City who dominated after the interval, a fine break by scrum-half Lewis Groves, on his first start, taking play to the visitors’ line only for a big overlap to then be wasted by a dropped pass in midfield. But now City took the pragmatic route as Ilkley repeatedly offended , Cortland kicking three penalties to stretch the advantage to 35 – 7. But for the last 10 minutes, defensive concentration lapsed a little. A break in midfield as Ilkley ran the ball sent centre Stuart Vincent over for a try which Shanks converted, and whilst City responded with their fifth try when AJ Smith and Richard Knowles combined on the left wing for the latter to run in under the posts from 30 metres and give Cortland his fourth conversion and a personal tally of 17 points, the last word was Ilkley’s as they pressed and replacement Richard Greenfield crossed on the short side of a ruck near City’s line to leave the final score at 42 – 19. Tomorrow, City travel to Morpeth for another League match (KO 2.15pm) CITY: Arnie Stevenson;
Grant Lowes, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Jonny Harding; Dudley
Cortland, Lewis Groves; Nick Hayes, Mike Hay, Gareth Malcolm,
Howard Johnson, Darren McKinnon (capt), Tom Baty, Richard Turnbull,
Jeff Roberts.
DURHAM CITY 11 HORDEN 5 In a break from league rugby, City progressed to the second round of the Durham Senior Cup after edging a close match against Horden at Hollow Drift. With the advantage of the very wet and windy conditions, Horden opened up strongly with some good driving forward play in the first 10 minutes, but it was City who drew first blood at that point to establish a lead that they never surrendered, despite some heavy second-half pressure from the visitors. Winning a loose ball in midfield, the home backs opened up and centre AJ Smith broke and went 45 metres on a mazy run before putting winger Grant Lowes over for a try wide out. Stand-off Dudley Cortland was unable to convert, but now City pressed. Winger Alex Sinkinson was stopped a metre short of the line, as was lock Peter Dent as he drove from the ruck that followed, and with Horden repeatedly infringing, the next score inevitably came, Cortland kicking a simple penalty after 16 minutes to stretch the home lead to 8 – 0. But when Horden intercepted a City pass in their own half to ease the pressure, it was City’s turn to defend and whilst the penalty count against the visitors was inhibiting them, a drive by their forwards and final dash down the touchline by flanker Steven Heckles produced a try that got them into the game after 29 minutes. Further Horden pressure followed but City defended well and with the visitors’ scrum-half Andrew Turner pushing a long penalty chance wide, the score remained 8 – 5 at the interval. Cortland extended City’s lead to 11 – 5 10 minutes into the second half with his second penalty, but although they were now facing the elements, it was Horden who generally held the territorial advantage throughout the half as their bigger pack drove the ball. But City’s defence was resolute and the only real scares for them came when a clearance kick was charged down 10 minutes from time, and as the pressure mounted, when former City flanker Rob Hebron was forced into touch a metre short of the line. A break by No.8 Jeff Roberts in the final minute might have produced more for City but for a late tackle by a Horden defender as he chipped ahead. However, Cortland cwas unable to convert the penalty chance and City happily settled for their 11 – 5 victory. Tomorrow, City return to North 1 East League action at home to Ilkley (KO 2-15pm). CITY: Arnie Stevenson; Grant Lowes, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Alex Sinkinson; Dudley Cortland, Stuart Matthews; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt), Tom Baty, Richard Turnbull, Jeff Roberts. Replacements:
Gareth Malcolm, Richard Ashton, Jonny Harding, Lewis Groves. HARTLEPOOL ROVERS 46 DURHAM CITY 15 Having trailed 0 - 12 after 10 minutes, City fought their way back into this match to lead 15 – 12 just after the interval , but with the wind now behind them, the big Hartlepool pack then clicked into gear to dominate the rest of the game and sweep City’s challenge away. Two early tries by winger Alan Lilley, the first following a drive by veteran No.8 Alan Brown and the second after scrum-half Andrew Foreman had broken from a scrum together with a conversion by centre Phil Hall put the home side clear at 12 – 0. But with new City stand-off, Australian Dudley Cortland using the wind well to push Rovers back with long, raking kicks, opportunities arose. But it was not until the 30th minute that he landed a simple penalty to get them on the scoreboard, and late in the half they put themselves right back in it. A good run by winger Alex Sinkinson took play deep into the Rovers’22 and the home side had to defend their line desperately to resist a series of City drives on their line. But when they eventually cleared, City full-back Arnie Stevenson fielded the kick 40 metres out and linked with their second Australian newcomer, centre AJ Smith who broke to put winger Grant Lowes over for a try which Cortland converted to take the score to 12 – 10 at the interval. 3 minutes into the second- half, they were at it again. A break by centre Richard Knowles took play to the Rovers’22, and when the home side were penalised 15 metres out following a driven lineout, they took it quickly and moved it wide for replacement winger Jonny Harding to score in the corner and establish a 15 – 12 lead. But it was short-lived. A charged-down City clearance and obstruction as the ball was hacked over their line resulted in a penalty try for Rovers which Hall converted, recovery of the lead at 19 – 15and a yellow card for Cortland. Now Rovers pressed home their advantage with some fine forward and back play. Hall added two penalties, centre Brian Foreman made a fine break to put replacement flanker Andrew Dring over their fourth try, flanker Michael Taylor crossed after a determined run by stand-off Gareth Foreman, and Andy Foreman finished it off, forcing his way over after a big forward drive. Hall converted all three tries to leave City well- beaten at 46 – 15. Tomorrow, City entertain Horden in the first round of the Durham Senior Cup.(KO 2.15pm) CITY: Arnie Stevenson; Grant Lowes, AJ Smith, Richard Knowles, Alex Sinkinson; Dudley Cortland, Jonathon Mills; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt), Tom Baty, Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Jonny
Harding, Gareth Malcolm, Alex Whitfield.
DURHAM CITY 11 GATESHEAD 8 In a lack-lustre match where the most important consideration for both clubs was the North 1 East League points, City emerged the winners – but only just! With Peter Van Loo, Richard Knowles, Angus Tester, Chris Dalton and James Balfour all returning as well as starts for Grant Lowes and Tom Baty, it was a much-changed City side that took the pitch and immediately they had the chance to go ahead, but scrum-half Dalton was short with a penalty chance. Play was scrappy however as the half progressed. Whilst there were early signs of a Gateshead advantage in the scrums, City gradually got control of the lineouts , but penalties against both sides abounded. Injury to City full-back Peter Van Loo after quarter of an hour forced his retirement and replacement by Jonny Harding, before Gateshead launched their first testing attack, winger Stuart Finlay being forced into touch after 3 or 4 phases of play. Two further penalty chances for City went begging as fly-half Angus Tester pushed them wide, but finally they took the lead in the 39th minute when hooker John Nichols drove from a lineout and when they moved it wide, a long pass by Tester saw Harding score in the corner to secure a 5 – 0 interval lead. A burst by Gateshead full-back David Tate ended with a penalty chance for them which stand-off Jonny Foster converted after 45 minutes to reduce the arrears, but Tester found his range to match it after solid City pressure quarter of an hour later. However, their defence was tested as Gateshead came back at them. Finlay was stopped 10 metres short, a bad pass halted a promising attack and Foster was wide with a penalty chance before City drove a maul in the Gateshead 22 and Tester added a second penalty as the visitors offended to take the score to 11 – 3. But Gateshead piled on the pressure in the last 5 minutes and, with City No. 8 Howard Johnson yellow-carded, got their reward in the 79th minute from a pushover scrum, replacement Michael Holland touching down. However, with a penalty awarded to City in front of the posts with the final play of the game, they kicked the ball out rather than chancing a Gateshead counter-attack to secure a dour win which may prove to be vital as the season progresses. Tomorrow, City are away to Hartlepool Rovers ( KO 2. 15pm) CITY: Peter Van Loo; Alex Sinkinson, Richard Knowles, Will Kirtley, Grant Lowes; Angus Tester, Chris Dalton; Mike Hay, John Nichols, James Balfour, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon, Jeff Roberts, Tom Baty, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Grant
Thompson, Gareth Malcolm, Jonny Harding.
DURHAM CITY 11 OLD BRODLEIANS 17 City paid the price for a slow start against newly-promoted Yorkshire side Old Brodleians, who set a frenetic pace in the first 20 minutes which threatened to sweep City away. A series of drives near the City line ended with No 8 Oliver Ackroyd charging over after only 3 minutes and converting his own try for a 0 – 7 lead , before adding a simple penalty quarter of an hour later to stretch it to 0 – 10. Inevitably however the visitors slowed as City’s pack started to get to grips with their opponents. A driving maul and thrust by centre Will Kirtley caught Brods offside 12 metres out in the 30th minute. Stand-off Arnie Stevenson duly kicked the penalty to pull the deficit back to 3 – 10 and from the re-start they threatened again as locks Darren McKinnon and Peter Dent combined with No8 Howard Johnson to take play deep into the visitors’ 22. But with Arnie Stevenson having to retire shortly after, City were forced to re-organise, brother Ben Stevenson on his first appearance of the season moving from scrum-half to stand-off and Jonathon Mills replacing him. The penalty chance for City that went with the incident went begging however as centre Jonny Harding pushed the ball wide and at the interval the score remained at 3 – 10. Constant City pressure on the Brods’ line for the opening 10 minutes of the second half should have produced a City score, particularly as for part of that period the visitors had two men yellow-carded. But they were unable to take advantage of a series of 5 metre scrums and lineouts at which Brods were penalised no less than five times in the first 5 minutes as they defended desperately and ran the clock down to recover their sin-binned players. Finally they cleared their lines, but it was still City in the driving seat. A charged-down kick by Johnson as City drove two Bros’ scrums back might have produced more, and when Harding converted a penalty to take the score to 6 – 10, the odds appeared to be on a winning City fightback. Their hopes were dashed however when they tried to move the ball wide in the 34th minute and Brods winger Aaron Fowler intercepted to race in from 50 metres to score their second try which Ackroyd converted to stretch their lead to 6 – 17. But City wouldn’t give up. Replacement flanker Tom Baty was driven over for a try in the 40th minute and they followed it immediately with a great attack from the re-start with Ben Stevenson breaking and Kirtley taking the ball deep into Brods’ 22. But with a try seeming likely from the ruck that followe, a forward pas was adjudged and they were left to rue their slow start. CITY: Richard Ashton; Alex Sinkinson, Jonny Harding, Will Kirtley; Arnie Stevenson, Ben Stevenson; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Gareth Malcolm, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt), Jeff Roberts, Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements : James
Balfour, Jonathon Mills, Tom Baty.
DRIFFIELD 17 DURHAM CITY 17 City clawed their way back into this North 1 East match to grab a thoroughly deserved draw, and with a little luck it might have been more. The day was a triumph for the forwards who demonstrated early on that they had the edge over their opponents and then subjected them to constant pressure throughout the second half with powerful scrummaging and driving mauls to close a 10 point deficit. Driving rain and a strong cross-wind made life difficult for both sides in the first half and handling errors abounded. But whilst the home backs showed their paces early on and posed a threat throughout, it was the City pack who first caught the eye with a 20 metre driving maul down the touchline, and a couple of minutes later, when a Driffield strayed offside as City moved the ball wide, full-back Arnie Stevenson was unfortunate to see his penalty kick re-bound off the upright. Great defence kept the City line intact after 20 minutes when they resisted a Driffield attack that produced 6 phases of play before winger Jonny Harding cleared to the home 22, and then they got their reward in the 22nd minute when the forwards drove 15 metres from a lineout for lock Peter Dent to score the first try which Stevenson converted for a 0 – 7 lead. Again they drove from a 5 metre lineout only to be stopped on the Driffield line after a good attack initiated by centre Will Kirtley. But with the home side using the elements well to clear their lines and take play deep into the City half, they got on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute when full-back Lee Birch kicked a penalty and just before the interval, he was on hand to break, score and convert his try after they had taken a penalty quickly to give his side a 10 – 7 lead. City’s stranglehold in the forwards became more and more pronounced as the game went on however. With play concentrating in or around the home 22, it therefore came as a surprise when they snapped up a loose ball 15 metres from their own line for scrum-half Harvey Harding to break 40 metres up the touchline and then link with winger Alisdair McClarron who raced clear for a fine try which Birch converted to stretch their lead to 17 – 7. But City were in no mood for folding. The pack’s efforts re-doubled as they kept the ball tight, laying siege to the Driffield line and booming touch kicks by Stevenson meant any relief was short-lived as they piled the pressure on. Fine Driffield defence denied them for a long period, but eventually they cracked in the 67th minute when City drove from a 5 metre lineout for flanker Jeff Roberts to score, and going straight back to the home line, they repeated the dose 10 minutes later when replacement flanker Tom Baty was driven over. Stevenson’s conversion attempt was just wide, but a valuable draw had been secured. CITY: Arnie Stevenson; Alex Sinkinson, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Jonny Harding; Richard Ashton, Chris Dalton; Kike Hay, John Nichols, James Balfour, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon, Jeff Roberts, Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Tom Baty,
Gareth Malcolm, Aaron Arkley.
DURHAM CITY 18 DARLINGTON 25 There may have been other games this season that City believe they could or should have won, but this was one that certainly got away. For 60 minutes they dominated the game and built up an 18 – 8 lead, only to succumb to a Darlington rearguard action that produced 3 tries to take the North 1 East League points. They might have led by much more than 12 – 5 at half-time, such was their control of the loose and lineouts. Lock Alex Whitfield had put them ahead after 5 minutes with a try from a driven lineout and, after the ball had been held up over the Darlington line 20 minutes later, full-back Arnie Stevenson gathered a Darlington clearance and combined with winger Jonny Harding for centre Chris Metcalfe to go over under the posts. Stevenson converted and City led 12 – 0. From the re-start, centre Will Kirtley broke, stand-off Richard Ashton and scrum-half Chris Dalton carried the move on for No.8 Howard Johnson to go over again, only for the referee to decide there had been a knock-on. City were flying, but further scores eluded them and in the last couple of minutes of the half, Darlington produced the first signs of pressure. City conceded two penalties in the visitors’ half and when the visitors got to the home 22 from the second of them, a charged down clearance kick allowed their pack to drive to the home line for prop Joe Oselton to score and reduce City’s half-time lead to 12 – 5. Two penalties by Stevenson to one by Darlington stand-off Mick Baldwin stretched the margin to 18 – 8 ten minutes into the second period however, but after the visitors had weathered further City pressure, they got themselves right back into the game when flanker Tony Lawson scored as the worked the short side from a quickly-won ruck near the City line. Baldwin converted and now they trailed by only 3 points at 18 – 15. With momentum now, it was Darlington’s turn to exert the pressure and when City failed to gather a ball in the corner 8 minutes from the end, Oselton went over from the ruck for his second try to give them the lead for the first time at 18 – 20. 5 minutes later, they attacked down the touchline and replacement prop, Dave Tunstead put scrum-half Sean Richardson over in the corner to secure what for the majority of the game had seemed an unlikely outcome. CITY; Arnie Stevenson; Jonny Harding, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Alex Sinkinson; Richard Ashton, Chris Dalton; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Alex Whitfield, Grant Thompson, Darren McKinnon (capt), Howard Johnson. Replacements: Ian Oates,
Aaron Arkley, Tom Baty.
CARLISLE 14 DURHAM CITY 34 City got back to winning ways with a good performance against Carlisle, establishing a 24 -7 lead by the interval and resisting the home sides’ attempts to run them ragged in the second half. With the forwards the lineouts and the loose, it was all City for the opening 20 minutes. A break off the back of a scrum by No.8 Howard Johnson and a big driving maul by the pack were the prelude to 2 penalty chances in the opening 6 minutes, but scrum-half Chris Dalton was unable to take advantage. By the 13th minute however, they had got their noses in front, the backs running from a lineout on halfway, full-back Arnie Stevenson breaking and then feeding centre Chris Metcalfe who went 20 metres down the touchline for the first try and a 0 – 5 lead. 3 minutes later, Johnson burst through the middle from a ruck on the 22 and supporting fly-half Richard Knowles forced his way over under the posts for Dalton to convert and stretch City’s lead to 0 – 12. However, Carlisle were getting more into the game, and when they created an overlap after 2 or 3 phases of play following a lineout on the City 22, full-back Chris Harris went over for a well-worked try which fly-half Glen Weightman converted to keep them in touch. But with their forward dominance and a series of sweeping attacks by the backs, City were always in control of the first half and they added two further tries through lock Peter Dent from a driven lineout and Stevenson , who took an inside pass to score after Knowles and Metcalfe had combined as City ran from broken play in midfield. Stevenson converted his own try from wide out and, at 7 – 24 they were well in the driving seat. A fine break by Knowles from a scrum 20 metres out allowed Johnson to gallop over under the posts for their fifth try 6 minutes into the second half, and with Stevenson adding the conversion and kicking a penalty 10 minutes later, City were out of sight of Carlisle at 7 – 34. But with the home side now running from everywhere and City trying to match them, mistakes abounded in the last quarter as both sides gave vital possession away. Whilst City’s defence was generally solid, Carlisle did however get their reward on the final whistle, when flanker Matt Davis grabbed the awkwardly-bouncing ball from a cross kick to the visitors’ line to score their second try which Weightman converted. It was too little, too late however , and City ended deserved winners. CITY: Arnie Stevenson; Alex Sinkinson, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Grant Thompson; Richard Knowles, Chris Dalton; Ian Oates, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Alex Whitfield, Darren McKinnon (capt), Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Johnny
Harding, Peter Van Loo, Gareth Malcolm.
DURHAM CITY 7 BILLINGHAM 34 The scoreline may suggest otherwise, but City will take heart from this performance against a free-scoring Billingham side which, so far has carried all before it and prior to this game was averaging in excess of 60 points a match. With injury problems abounding before the start and compounded as the game went on, it was only in the last quarter when City were reduced to 14 men, having used all their replacements, that the visitors pulled right away scoring 3 tries to reward their running and support play which threatened throughout. They went ahead after 9 minutes when a move at the front of a lineout 20 metres out ended with centre Chris Hyndman taking an inside pass to score the first try. But City responded quickly from a ruck when centre Chris Metcalfe shot through a gap created by a short pass from fly-half Angus Tester, in his first game, who then converted from wide out with a fine kick across the strong wind to put the home side 7 – 5 ahead. A try after 34 minutes by Billingham hooker Anthony Amos who gathered a loose ball to drive over in the corner after a concerted attack got the visitors’ noses back in front however, but when Tester made a fine break to put centre Will Kirtley over shortly after, it seemed City would hold a half-time lead. The referee adjudged the pass forward however and they trailed 7 – 10. Some of the City defence after the interval was outstanding as Billingham launched attacks from all over the field and it was not until the 57th minute that they extended their lead, by which stage the home injury toll was rising rapidly. Chris Hyndman burst through from 20 metres and scrum-half Andrew Evans scored under the posts for full-back Peter Evans to convert and open the gap to 7 – 17. But with centre Will Kirtley retiring hurt after 66 minutes and all replacements used, City were down to 14 men and Billingham took full advantage to score 3 further tries through winger Craig Shepherd, flanker Dave Robinson and Peter Evans, the last of which fly-half Joe Evans converted to round off a deserved victory. CITY: Richard Knowles; Alex Sinkinson, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Peter Van Loo; Angus Tester, Jonathon Mills; Gareth Malcolm, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Alex Whitfield, Darren McKinnon (capt), Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements: Chris
Dalton, Chris Hughes, James Balfour
SANDAL 62 DURHAM CITY 3 It took Sandal 26 minutes to get on the scoreboard against a City side that had, to that point, dominated the possession but was unable to capitalise on an early 3 – 0 lead. Once they got there however, there was no holding the home side and City were swept aside with a 10 try barrage. The City cause was not helped by injury to flanker Jeff Roberts from the kick-off and he was replaced immediately by Alex Whitfield. Nevertheless, they started brightly enough and after 5 minutes a good drive by the forwards, having robbed the ball from Sandal in the loose, took play to 15 metres out and when the home side offended at the ruck, scrum-half Chris Dalton kicked a simple penalty. But as the half progressed, Sandal crept more into the game, stand-off Greg Wood going wide with a couple of penalty chances before a strong run by winger Alex Orr following a scrum in midfield produced their first try. 5 minutes later, a catch and drive from a 5 metre lineout ended with flanker Tom Hurst getting the touchdown to open up a 10 – 3 lead, and 2 further tries in first-half injury-time effectively killed City off. First, a counter-attack from their own 22 saw winger Gareth Newman gather a kick ahead and race 50 metres only to be caught 3 metres out, but scrum-half Max Whittingham ran wide to score from the ruck that followed. Then full-back Tom Coad outstripped the City defence from 30 metres to touch down in the corner from an attack that started in their own half and Wood finally succeeded with the conversion to leave the visitors trailing 22 – 3 at the interval. Now with their tails well and truly up, it became a procession in an ill-tempered second-half. Early tries for No.8 Sam Whittingham and a second for Hurst, both converted by Wood, who now had his kicking boots on, cemented their dominance, and in the last 20 minutes they added four more, Orr and Coad both getting their second to add to one each by replacement forward Jon Dix and winger Newman. With Wood putting the finishing touches to a comprehensive home victory by converting three of them, City were left a well-beaten side. CITY: Aaron Arkley; Alex Sinkinson, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Peter Van Loo; Richard Knowles, Chris Dalton; Gareth Malcolm, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt), Jeff Roberts, Richard Turnbull. Howard Johnson. Replacements: Alex
Whitfield, James Walker, Jamie Bond.
At the third attempt, City finally secured a well-deserved win over Yorkshire visitors Pontefract at Hollow Drift to kick-start their new North 1ast League campaign. With injuries already taking their toll, three personnel and five positional changes were necessary, but rarely did they look threatened as they dominated the first half with a much more disciplined display and probably should have led more convincingly than 7 – 5 at half-time. After early pressure, they went ahead after 13 minutes when the forwards drove to the Pontefract line from a 5 metre lineout and centre Chris Metcalfe almost blasted through the visitors’ cover before popping the scoring pass up to supporting winger Grant Thompson. Scrum-half Chris Dalton converted for a 7 – 0 lead Four minutes later, hooker John Nichols robbed the ball at a Pontefract lineout on halfway, centre Will Kirtley burst up the middle and full-back Peter Van Loo raced into the Pontefract 22 only for the move to break down with a forward pass when a try seemed likely. Whilst Dalton was just wide with a penalty chance shortly after, City were well in command, but in the final 10 minutes of the half, their failure to turn opportunities into points looked as if it might prove costly as Pontefract got down to the home 22 and, opting for scrums to keep the pressure on when City were penalised a couple of times, they got their reward when No.8 Derek Eves went over in the corner. However, with City producing 2 tries within 6 minutes of the second half starting, the game was effectively over. After Pontefract stand-off Andrew Dean missed a simple penalty in the first minute which, if successful, could have changed the game’s complexion, City struck. No.8 Howard Johnson burst 25 metres in the loose, linked with lock Peter Dent and when the ball was moved to the backs, Metcalfe broke to score at the posts from 29 metres out. Dalton converted and 3 minutes later, good chasing by Aaron Arkley, now at full-back, and replacement winger Alex Sinkinson on his debut saw the ball won and the pack drive from 15 metres for Johnson to get the touchdown. Dalton again converted and City were clear at 21 – 5 up. Midway through the half however, Pontefract got their second wind and for 10 minutes dominated the possession, one notable 50 metre rolling maul to the City line being the highlight. But the home defence soaked up the pressure and, with the visitors’ scrum-half yellow-carded, they countered superbly, Johnson surging from a ruck 35 metres out for lock Darren McKinnon, captaining in the absence of the injured Stuart Smithson, to take the pass and stroll under the posts from 12 metres for their fourth try. Dalton again converted to seal a good victory. CITY: Peter Van Loo; Aaron Arkley, Chris Metcalfe, Will Kirtley, Grant Thompson; Richard Knowles, Chris Dalton; Gareth Malcolm, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Peter Dent, Darren McKinnon (capt,), Jeff Roberts, Richard Turnbull, Howard Johnson. Replacements:
Alex Whitfield, Alex Sinkinson, Jamie Bond Having lost the first North 1 East League match of the season last week against Old Crossleyans when they conceded 14 points in injury time to go down 0 -17 City effectively repeated the self-inflicted damage at Percy Park. 6 – 3 up at half-time and on top in the forwards, they pounded away at the home line just after half-time, but good defence and over-anxiety prevented the score that would have taken them clear and the number of penalties conceded throughout took any initiative away from them. A penalty by winger James Walker and drop-goal by new stand-off Chris Dalton to a Marcus Rutter penalty had put City ahead. But Percy Park kept plugging away and when the opportunity arose they took it in the middle of the second half. As City tried to run out of their own 22, they were caught, the ball was turned over and when it was spun wide, overlapping winger Marcus Turner dived in at the corner. Rutter converted and City trailed 6 – 10. Again City pressed. Full-back Peter Van Loo weaved his way into the home 22 but the crucial pass was intercepted, concerted pressure from a 5 metre scrum which should have produced a City try was foiled by another penalty against them and then a kickable penalty chance went begging. Another Rutter penalty in the 37th minute consolidated Park’s lead at 13 – 6 after a big kick had taken play to the City 22 and, now in the ascendency, they made City pay for their earlier errors when lock Andrew Clyde crossed for their second try in the 5th minute of injury time when they exploited the short side of a ruck near the City line. Rutter converted from the touchline and the visitors were left to rue their earlier failings.
Replacements:
Grant Thompson, Alex Whitfield, Gareth Malcolm
DURHAM CITY 0 OLD CROSSLEYANS 17 This was not the start to the new season in the North 1 East League for which City would have wished. Scrappy throughout and littered with injury stoppages, the result could have gone either way. But leading by a solitary first-half penalty at the end of normal time, Old Crossleyans consolidated in a lengthy period of injury- time to score two converted tries and gain a deserved win, albeit by a somewhat flattering margin. Introducing three new players in full-back Chris Charlton, centre Will Kirtley and stand-off Chris Dalton, it was City who forced the pace early on. An interception by scrum-half Jeff Roberts and a break by No.8 Howard Johnson might have produced more, but poor handling by the home backs let them down. However, a darting run by the visitors’ scrum-half Richard Cockroft got his side into the home 22 after 15 minutes and, when City offended, stand-off Chris Jones kicked a simple penalty to put his side ahead. With the Crossleyans continuity of play looking better as the half progressed, it was basic errors that were letting City down – handling, ball retention and poor kicking. But still they might, and probably should have led at half-time. A couple of good driving mauls were pulled down but not penalised as they threatened, winger James Walker was just unable to take a Dalton cross-kick that would have produced a try, Dalton was wide with a penalty chance and the ball was lost in contact as the forwards drove for the line on half-time. A non-descript second half with numerous replacements saw the visitors get more control, but City’s defence was never in question until the injury-time finale. First No.8 Manny Riaz picked up to drive over from a 5 metre scrum to extend Crossleyans’ lead and then when City lost the ball as their backs attacked in midfield, winger James Wainwright snapped it up to race away for a second try. Jones converted both, and whilst City roused themselves to put the visitors’ line under severe pressure at the death, it was too little, too late. CITY: Chris Charlton; Chris Metcalfe, Richard Knowles, Will Kirtley, James Walker; Chris Dalton, Jeff Roberts; Mike Hay, John Nichols, Mark Cammiss, Alex Whitfield, Stuart Smithson (capt.), Grant Thompson, Darren McKinnon, Howard Johnson. Replacements:
Peter Dent, Gareth Malcolm, Arnie Stevenson. |
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