Newton Aycliffe 3 - Hartlepool 2XV 5
Apr
Newton Aycliffe hosted Hartlepool in a re-arranged Durham Junior League game at Moore Lane. Despite a number of absences, Aycliffe were able to field a squad of 21 players for the match, which was played in cold, wet, and windy conditions.
Aycliffe played with the wind on the first period, and quickly moved onto the attack using the speed advantage of their backs. A number of times, Aycliffe came close to scoring, with Gareth Parsonage, Paul Ellis and Darrell McLaren, playing his first match of the season, all making breaks, but the final pass failed each time. A Parsonage penalty goal gave the home team the lead after 25 minutes. No further points were scored before the break and the score remained at 3 – 0.
The conditions took a turn for the worse in the second half and the game became a forward battle more suited to Hartlepool’s greater bulk. Aycliffe won most of their own lineout ball through Stuart McIvor. Keith Greenwood, Neil Morgan and Deryk Cairns defended manfully, but the home team spent almost the whole half in defence. As the game approached its close, the attacks became more concerted and, with 5 minutes to go, Hartlepool crossed the line only to drop the ball. Still they attacked and Aycliffe defended heroically, but with little more than a minute to go, the visiting scrum-half found a gap and scored a try to take the lead. Aycliffe were unable to fight back and the game ended with Hartlepool again crossing the line, but the try was not awarded. The game ended with the score 5 – 3, if Aycliffe had made the most of their chances they could have scored a number of tries in the first half, but the Hartlepool pressure was worthy of their narrow victory.
Anyone who would like to play at Aycliffe, of whatever standard, is welcome to attend training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Moore Lane at 7pm. Up-to-date information can be found on the website at www.ayclifferugby.co.uk.
