Durham City’s U13’s also took part in a triangular tournament, hosted by Northern at Gosforth, together with a touring side from York RFC. A much improved Durham XV showed great character in overcoming a strong York side. The touring team took the lead, but Durham responded through two tries scored by captain Tom Studd, both converted by Studd. Although York scored a second try, the conversions proved decisive, final score Durham City U13s 14 York U13s 10.

In the second game a tiring Durham XV went down 39-20 vs. Northern U13s. Durham’s try scorers David Elliott, Carl Crawford, Tom Studd (2).

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Sunday January 27th 2008

Durham City U13s 24 Billingham U13s 27

Durham narrowly lost a thrilling game at Hollow Drift against a skilful Billingham side. The visitors started the stronger, and went two tries ahead within the first 10 minutes, capitalising on lapses in the Durham defence. Durham responded with a try in the corner from centre Tom Studd, but Billingham extended their lead again after a forward drive lead to a converted try, the visitors taking a 22 – 5 advantage into the break.

With the blustery wind now more in their favour, Durham came back strongly in the second half, finding space on the Billingham flanks when they could get quick ball. First fly half Dodge Elliott broke away down the right flank for a second try for the home side, and then Tom Studd used his pace to outstrip the Billingham defence scoring two tries in 5 minutes, to complete his hat-trick. Studd converted both tries, to bring Durham within 3 points of a stunning come back victory. As Durham pressed for the win, in the dying seconds lock Adam Kitching charged down an attempted clearance, and as the ball rolled back over the Billingham line came tantalisingly close to snatching a last gasp win, but just lost out in the chase to touch the ball down before the referee blew the final whistle.

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20th January, 2008

Morpeth U13s 41 Durham City U13s 7

Durham City’s youngest junior side travelled to Morpeth and lost heavily to a powerful home XV, who commanded a 29-0 lead by half time. Durham made a more determined start to the second period, however, putting pressure on the Morpeth scrum, and were rewarded with a try from fly half Tom Studd, who beat two Morpeth backs to touch down and then convert, from under the posts. Durham’s comeback was short lived, however, and the home side forced over two further tries to seal a comfortable win.

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13th January, 2008

Durham County Cup 1st Round
Horden RFC U13s 15 Durham City U13s 14

Durham’s U13s had an unlucky early exit from the cup at the hands of Horden. The home side had the benefit of the wind at their backs in the first half, and took an early lead with a try from a scrum five metres out. Durham responded well, and got ahead into half time with a converted try under the posts from scrum half Simon Coleman. Durham kept the momentum in the second period, and narrowly missed out on extending their lead as pressure in the host’s final third lead to a string of tapped penalties, but the home side’s defence held out well. Horden then responded with two tries in 5 minutes from scrums in the Durham half, both un-converted. Again Durham pressurised the Horden defence, and were rewarded when captain Tom Studd slid his way over the line, converting the try to bring Durham back to within a point of the hosts. Too late for Durham however – the final whistle blew as soon as Studd’s kick crossed between the posts. Final score Horden 15 Durham 14.

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U15's

Portobello RFC U15s 7 - 27 Durham City RFC U15s

Durham City U15s celebrated the culmination of another fine season with a successful tour to Edinburgh, where they defeated Portobello RFC U15s on Saturday by 27 points to 7.  Two tries from man of the match George Studd, and one each from Dylan Wilson, Patrick Jones and David Galloway, saw Durham through to a well deserved victory in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat. 

The players, coaches and parents went on to celebrate overnight in the heart of the city, before returning home on Sunday via Berwick RFC.  Here the home side got the better of the tourists who, carrying injuries and too many tired heads, went down to a 36-15 defeat, though Durham’s performance in the circumstances was worthy of praise, with three excellent tries from backs George Sayer, David Galloway and man of the match Patrick Jones

Durham City U15s – 2006-2007 Season Stats:

Played 25

Won 10

Lost 14

Tie   1 (vs. Percy Park)

Try scorers:

Jack Johnson15

Dylan Wilson 14 

George Studd 13

Paddy Jones 7

David Galloway  6

Max Bailey  4

George Sayer  3

Alex Fenwick  3

Dan Young 2

Liam  Callaghan 2

One each for: Richard Virgo, Ryan Lynch, Jordon Graham, James Riley, Thomas Howard,  Scott Gimby.

Conversions: Dylan Wilson 2, Jordon Graham 9, Ryan Lynch 13 (plus 1 pen)

Players’ Player of the Year – Jordon Graham 

Coaches Award – Player of the Year – Max Bailey

Coaches Award – Most Improved Player – George Sayer

County Honours – Congratulations to George Studd, Jack Johnson and Dan Young, who all won U15 Durham County caps this season.

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U16's

07.09.2008 Hartlepool Rovers Vs Durham City (Under 16)
Score: 38 - 0

'City, who fielded a team having 2 members who had not played competitively before, kicked off their first game of the season on a pleasant day. The match ebbed and flowed for some 10 minutes before Rovers scored a try which was converted. A short while later, the referee awarded Rovers a Penalty Try for what was deemed to be a high tackle. This too was converted. A further try was scored and converted by Rovers just before half time. During this half, City forwards showed good skills when picking and driving and on occasions were able to put 7 or 8 phases together. In the second half Rovers scored a further 3 tries but only 1 was converted. Unfortunately City failed to score. Nevertheless, the team deserved better and not only the forwards showed skills but the backs in particular also deserve praise for their tackling ability although some bad misses were noted from both divisions. Many of the players both forwards and backs showed excellent individual skills but as a whole the inexperience showed. Considering that the back division had only 1 person playing in position, great spirit was shown against a side including several County standard players. The lack of experience was seen in the amount of wayward passes that did not go to hand. The team as a whole got to grips with the new laws including lifting at the line out which is now allowed. The final score of 38 - 0 did not reflect City's possession and territory. Overall this was a creditable performance especially as no one let their head drop.' Match report: George Cansino, [ Touch Judge].
Keith would like to welcome all old and new team members to 2008/2009 season as Durham City Under 16’s.

Sunday 20^th April 2008

City  U16s  17  Tynedale U16s  18

Durham were two points ahead with just 90 seconds remaining, but ended up loosing out to the last kick of a close and exciting match, as Tynedale hit the winning penalty.  The visitors had been the stronger side in the first half, dominating most of the territory and took the lead with a try in the corner.  Durham responded well, however, and found winger Dylan Wilson out wide to run over a try on the overlap, bringing the scores level at half time.  In the second half Durham began to dominate in the scrum, setting up a platform for winger Tom Hutchinson to run in his first of two tries, converted by Ryan Lynch. Now the game swung back to Tynedale, the visitors bringing the score back to 12-10 with a second try, before taking the lead with a controversial try in the corner, with Durham supporters appealing that the ball was in touch.   Durham responded well, and from a quick break from the backs Hutchinson scored his second try, to re-take what Durham thought would be the winning lead, before that last gasp Tynedale penalty strike.  Final score, Durham City U16s 17 Tynedale U16s 18.     

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11th - 13^th April 2008

DCRFC U16s tour reports

West Norfolk RFC U16s 0  Durham City U16s  17

Swaffham RFC U16s  5  Durham City U16s  17  

Durham City’s U16s travelled down to the Robertson Barracks in Norfolk for their tour weekend, where they were hosted by the Light Dragoons, who laid on an outstanding weekend of activities for the squad, culminating in a triangular tournament against two local sides, from which Durham emerged undefeated.  In the first game Durham took on a strong West Norfolk RFC U16s side, and the visitors put on their best performance of the season, asserting their dominance in the pack and setting up a platform for three unanswered tries, from Jordan Graham, Dylan Wilson and Dan Young, with one conversion from Ryan Lynch to complete a 17-0 win.   

In the second game against Swaffham RFC, Durham took the lead through a Patrick Jones try, equalised by Swaffham to bring the scores even by half time.  Durham then came out and dominated the second half, with Jack Johnson breaking through to put Durham back ahead with a converted try, before Ryan Lynch crossed over to put victory out of the hosts reach. Durham narrowly missed out on a third try in the final seconds, as scrum half Scott Gimby was injured by a strong tackle as he broke over the home side’s line. Final score Swaffham U16s  5  Durham City u16s  17.

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March 30th 2008

Redcar RFC U16s 17  Durham City RFC U16s  5

Durham’s U16s acquitted themselves well in a bad tempered encounter against an uncompromising Redcar XV.  Durham were under pressure in the initial stages, and fell behind to an early disputed try by Redcar’s number 8, awarded despite the visitor’s claims that he was tackled short of the line. Durham’s defence was strong throughout, and repelled several further thrusts from Redcar’s big pack. Jack Johnson and Dan Young were outstanding for Durham, and began to lead some counter charges for the visitors, before Durham conceded an unfortunate second try shortly before half time, followed by a third converted try early in the second period.  Durham fought back well, with the backs now starting to implement some good attacking moves.  Durham pressure in the loose lead to a try from Johnson, breaking through the Redcar line at pace.  As the visitors pushed on for the comeback Redcar’s discipline began to crumble, yet despite being reduced to 14 men by a yellow card 5 minutes from time they held on for the win.             

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16^th March 2008

Ryton U16s 5 Durham City U16s 0

In a low scoring close encounter Ryton came out on top through mastering the windy conditions better than the visitors. Durham were pinned back for most of the first half, and with the gale blowing into their faces were unable to use the boot to clear their lines. However, Durham’s defence held strong, with scrum half  Scott Gimby marshalling the rucks and mauls, and forwards George Sayer and Tom Baty disrupting Ryton ball in the loose. The backs played their part too, mounting a high tackle count, until Ryton finally managed to break through to score a single first half try.  In the second period Durham had the wind to their backs, and were expected come from behind to win, but Ryton defended equally as strongly, and when Durham created good chances too often their handling let them down. In the end Ryton deserved their win. 

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March 2^nd 2008

Darlington RFC U16s  36  Durham City U16s  0

Durham crashed out of the County Cup away to Darlington in a game played in very blustery conditions.  The visitors adapted the slowest to playing in the strong wind, and unable to resort to the boot to clear their lines they remained under sustained pressure for most of the first half.  Durham were valiant in defence, however, making tackle after tackle in each of the early phases of the home side’s possession. However, Darlington’s ability to keep recycling quick ball meant that gaps inevitably began to appear out wide, which the home side’s backs exploited to good effect, running in five first half tries. Durham’s game improved significantly in the second half, and they were much more effective at containing the hosts offensive efforts.  Darlington went a man down when number 8 Oliver Kitson was sin binned for an offside offence, and it was then that the pace of full back Tom Hutchinson and wingers Dylan Wilson and James Reilly really started to pose a threat for the visitors. Only several last ditch tackles by the Darlington defence prevented Durham from getting onto the score sheet.  Darlington finished the game with a final try following forward pressure in the visitor’s twenty-two, to complete the win and end Durham’s challenge for another season.  

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24th February 2008

Westoe U16s  69  Durham City U16s  0

An under-strength Durham XV we were second best throughout against a classy Westoe side.  Durham were able to hold their own in the lineout, where Max Bailey regularly disrupted the home side’s ball, and the scrum held up well until close to the end, but the visitors were undone by a display of outstanding continuity from the South Shields outfit. Although Durham tackled valiantly, with Josh Brown, Jack Johnson and Tom Hutchinson notably notching up a massive tackle count between them, Westoe were seemingly always able to pop the ball to a supporting player, to keep the move going. This meant Durham often had too little time to re-organise their defensive lines, and the gaps opened up too frequently for the home side to drive through. To their credit Durham never gave up trying, and came close to scoring consolation tries on a number of occasions right up until the final whistle.

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10^th February 2008

Billingham U16s  15   Durham City U16s  10

After a start delayed by a thick blanket of fog that had shrouded the Billingham pitch, Durham were the quickest to get into their stride, and struck early with a try in the corner from winger Dylan Wilson.  Billingham broke back immediately, however, with a converted try, followed later by a penalty after Durham were penalised for hands in the ruck, to take a 10-5 lead into half time.  From the start of the second period Durham’s forwards began to exert more pressure, with Philip Fletcher strong in the lineout, and Josh Brown making hard yards and even harder tackles.  Durham looked most threatening when they got the ball out wide quickly, where the pace of Wilson and Tom Hutchinson worried the home defence, but too often backs moves stalled in midfield, allowing Billingham turnover ball. As yet another Durham move broke down Billingham stole the ball and extended their lead with a further try.  Durham replied swiftly with an individual try from centre Jack Johnson, breaking through the home side’s defensive line. Then as the clocked ticked away Durham narrowly missed two further chances to even up the score. 

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20th January, 2008

Durham County Cup 2nd Round
Durham City RFC U16s 48 Houghton U16s 7

Full back David Galloway notched up a hat-trick of tries as Durham’s U16s overcame an improved Houghton XV to progress through to the third round of the County Cup. Galloway opened the scoring for Durham as he burst into the attacking line at pace to touch the ball down under the posts. Houghton came back with a spirited response, and evened the score shortly later, after a prolonged period of pressure on the Durham line. Durham’s forwards then upped their game, with Tom Baty and Philip Fletcher prominent in the loose, securing a supply of good ball to the backs to create tries for Jack Johnson and Alex Fenwick to take the home side into a 15-5 lead at half time.
The wet conditions suited close forward play, and it was number 8 George Studd who drove over in the corner to increase Durham’s lead, yet as the visitor’s legs tired and gaps opened up, it was the pace of Durham’s backs that did the rest of the damage in the final quarter. Galloway and Johnson both notched up their second try each before substitute winger Dylan Wilson added another, all three converted by Wilson. But it was Galloway’s day, sealing his hat-trick with a converted try in the dying minutes of the game. Final score Durham City U16s 48 Houghton U16s 7.

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13th January, 2008

Durham City U16s 12 Consett U16s 7

Durham’s U16s had a bye for the first round of the cup, and instead notched up a victory in a friendly against visitors Consett. Durham took the lead with a try from forward Max Bailey, converted by Ryan Lynch. Consett responded with a period of sustained pressure, but Durham’s defence held firm, and it was the hosts who broke away to score a second try through David Galloway, to go into the interval with a 12 – 0 lead. Consett had the better of the second half possession, and strong pressure lead to a converted try from the visitors on the 50 minute mark, but the Consett were unable to build on this score, and Durham held on for a deserved win. Final score Durham City U16s 12 Consett U16s 7.

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Sunday, 18th November 2007 

Alnwick U16s 10 Durham City RFC U16s 12

Durham had to dig deep as they fought back from ten points down to overcome an improved Alnwick XV on Sunday. Alnwick’s strong pack was on top in the first half, and set up the platform for the home side to take a two try lead into the half time break.
Durham though were far from beaten, and came out after the interval with renewed commitment, beginning a period of sustained pressure camped in Alnwick’s half, eventually leading to Durham’s first try. Tom Hutchinson, who had an impressive debut at centre for Durham, made a strong tackle close to the Alnwick line, causing the ball to fall loose for Alistair Dundee to pick up and dive over for his first try for City. Ryan Lynch followed up with the crucial conversion. Alnwick rallied again, but a few minutes later Jack Johnson collected the ball for Durham 30 yards out, dummied to kick but instead broke inside through a gap in the Alnwick defensive line to score the try that completed the comeback and clinched the win for Durham. Final score Alnwick U16s 10 Durham City U16s 12.

Sunday 28^th October

Durham City RFC U16s  26  Billingham U16s 19

Two tries each from Durham’s in-form centres Ryan Lynch and Jack Johnson took Durham to victory over Billingham at Hollow Drift on Sunday.   The home side started strongly, with their much improved forwards putting the squeeze on the Billingham pack, and creating quick ball for the backs,  setting them up to do the damage. It was Lynch who opened the scoring, with a try converted by Mathew Varley, but Billingham responded with a try of their own before the brace from man of the match Johnson took Durham into the break with a 21-7 lead.    

Billingham came out more determined in the second half, and pulled back another try, but Lynch’s second score soon after extended Durham’s lead again.  However, the home side started to take their foot off the gas, and Billingham’s pressure lead to the best try of the game, as they charged down an attempted Durham clearance kick to force an opportunistic score. Durham heard the wake up call, and defended well in the final minutes to hold out for a deserved 26 – 19 win.      

Sunday October 14^th

Consett RFC U16s  0  Durham City RFC  U16s  31

Durham got off to a slow start at Consett, making too many mistakes and allowing the home side to dictate the early play.  Consett did always look vulnerable when Durham got the ball out wide, however, and the opening try in the corner from Durham’s winger David Galloway, converted by Mathew Varley, settled the visitors down.  Durham’s second try also came from the wing, when James Reilly jinked through the Consett defence to score under the posts. Now Durham’s forwards started to turn the screw, and number 8 Dan Yates picked up from the back of a 5 metre scrum to burst through to take Durham into the break with a 19 – lead.

Durham's juniors now had the breeze on their backs, and with confidence also running high, never really looked like surrendering their lead.  Man of the Match George Studd put victory for the visitors beyond doubt with another try from a scrum close in, before Richard Walsh rounded off a well deserved win, crashing through the now tired Consett defence for Durham’s 5^th try, converted by Ryan Lynch, to bring the final victory margin to 31-0. 

Sunday September 23^rd

Ryton RFC U16s  5  Durham City RFC U16s  10

Durham’s U16s clinched victory with a try in the last few seconds away at Ryton, in a closely contested match played in very windy conditions. Durham began with the wind at their backs, and opened the scoring early when scrum half George Sayer broke away from a ruck on a sniping run to crash over the line for a try.  However, Durham didn’t make the most of their advantage, and allowed Ryton back into the game, with a breakaway try down Durham’s right flank to bring the scores back even at the break.

In the second period the home side showed how to take maximum benefit from the conditions. Durham found it hard to break out of their own half, and when they did venture into attack, were often forced back to their own line by the home side’s wind- assisted kicking. However, City’s youngsters showed great resilience, and their defensive work was outstanding throughout, with notably strong tackling from Dan Young, Alex Fenwick and debutee Dan Yates, who had an excellent first match for the visitors.  Durham just about deserved their victory, when Ryan Lynch supporting a breakout through the centre of the Ryton defence, ran over the winning try in the corner.      

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Sunday, 9th September, 2007

Durham City RFC U16s 12 West Hartlepool U16s 45

West Hartlepool U16s gave Durham's U16s a lesson in disciplined, well drilled rugby as they took command in the first period. Durham were under pressure for much of the half, and though they fought hard, and competed well at the set pieces, too often the hosts failed to clear their lines. West's attacking back line were always dangerous, and by half time the visitors had run in five tries without response.

Durham came back out after the break with much more purpose, and concerted pressure on West's strong defence was rewarded with two tries, from Jack Johnson and George Studd, one converted by Mathew Varley. Too late to change the result, Durham at least had the consolation of matching West score for score in the second half, with the final result West Hartlepool 45, Durham 12.

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02/09/07

Durham City RFC U16s  35 - 0 Lanchester U16s  

Durham City U16s got the new season off to a good start with a first match victory over Lanchester at Hollow Drift.  The first 20 minutes were even, with Lanchester starting strongly, competing successfully in the lineout, and putting pressure on Durham’s scrum. However, the home side soon began to find the gaps in Lanchester’s covering defence, and tries from backs Jordon Graham and Alex Fenwick, the latter converted by Graham, took Durham into the break with a 12-0 lead.

Durham continued the momentum in the second half, with an impressive break from new centre Mathew Varley crossing the line for Durham’s third try, before Alex Fenwick chasing a Durham kick capitalised on uncertainty between two Lanchester defenders to run over his second try, and Durham’s fourth.  By now Durham were in command, and a second try from Jordon Graham, followed by an individual effort from Ryan Lynch, converted by Varley, sealed an emphatic 35-0 win for Durham.       

Review of Last Season – 2006-2007