Signs of Progress

Positive signs leading into this game as some of our injured players returned to training but were not risked for this fixture. As such, a mix of youth and experience took to the field hoping to gel quickly and get a win against our nearest neighbours.

Throughout the match we lacked cohesion at the set piece as players somewhat unfamiliar with each other committed a high level of errors. As such, Medicals dominated the match in terms of possession. Two players in particular caused us trouble - the loosehead who carried and off loaded at will and their flyhalf who looked a clever player calling the shots for them.

We struggled at times to win set piece ball, especially at the lineout. Whilst we never stopped trying in the end we just missed too many tackles and dropped a lot of ball.

Positive signs were there to be seen as Tommy Goodman upped his mins after injury, Richard Dodd and George Wilson combined well in only there second game together, Shaun Stewart had a terrific cameo off the bench and our young players got more game time in the first team.

Medicals ran out worthy winners, easing relegation fears as the start to move away from Darlington and Ponteland. The final score was 35-17 with our points coming from Tommy Goodman, Alex Littlefair, Angus Duncan and Richard Dodd kicking a conversion.

Apologies for the brief report and the delay in its publishing. However, in the aftermath of drinking away defeat I misplaced my notes !!

The lads now look forward to a midweek cup semi final against Rockcliff. The lads not risked in this fixture should be fit for Wednesdays big game.