First thing that must be said is thank you to Acklam for jumping on the bus and travelling up for the match. Not an easy proposition to ask a player to travel up the road for top vs bottom - fair play lads. Loved how you never gave in, got together under the pots, came together to celebrate your tries. Some real club spirit shown and we hope that puts you in a position to rebuild next season.

Jul-Aug.
We didn't start out trying to win the league but soon realised there was chance after getting on a roll early doors. Pre season was massive for the lads, new energy round the teams via new players like Owen Hayton from Ashington, returning players like Cam Wallace and our resident rugby league pro - Alex Donaghy. We set a tough pre season programme against three level six sides. It came up trumps as we won the test series 2-1 with an amazing away win at Consett. Set a great tone.

Games 1-6
Fixture list then gave us some comfortable wins but we were all waiting for game 4 - Durham Uni at home. They were good, full of players who I'm sure moved up the Wednesday teams in no time. In particular the 9 was a real handful. I was following dispatches in a hotel in Edinburgh - dismay of a late uni try to take the lead flipped with the news that Alex Donaghy had scored a last second 32-31 winner.
It was a huge few weeks as we then got a great away win at Horden & Peterlee 39-31 before returning home for a huge game against Stockton. Someone who we expected to push for the title. Statement made 71-19 - no one saw that score line coming.

Games 7-10
More buzz around the club as Sam Evans had arrived at the end of pre season but had gone and damaged his hand straight away. A highly skilled utility back who was now recovered and ready to get stuck in.
Two easy wins set up a top of the table clash at Ryton although we had a few players out - a few of which were not injured, just doing other things. To say the day didn't go well would be an understatement. Somedays the Rugby Gods just seem to forsake you. We lost our lineout caller and flyhalf to an injury whilst we had chosen to cover other areas with our subs. So no solutions could be found. Ryton deservedly winning 27-26. This was to be our club captains last game of the season as Ben Jubb went off to New Zealand to explore club rugby in the Waikato area.
The boys bounced back though and the rest of December got a league win and we completed our December social fixtures - RGS Old Boys and our inter club game - the Jack Bolam Memorial Trophy. During this window Andrew Kirton joined us from Westoe and had a run out. The big second row has been someone we had been after for a few seasons now.
Top of the table at Xmas !

Games 11-15
Another massive block for us after the first two games of the new year were frozen off. We beat Darlington at home before four tough ones vs Durham Uni, Medicals, Horden and Stockton. We dispatched Durham Uni on their astro 38-24 but Brandon Gilbert sustained a bad ankle injury on the surface. Defence too strong the week after as we beat Meds 33-5. We were in a good place with the new leadership group of Dylan Gittins and Josh Farley getting off to a flying start. At home we beat Horden which just left us the small matter of a trip away to Stockton to finish the tough run. The majority of the young ones got lost and struggled to find Grangefield Playing Fields but we got there in the end. The game had a tense ending which I didnt see coming 24-10 up with 20 mins to play. We lost the ref and the game turned on its head. Suddenly there was mins left, it's 24-24 and we only have 14 men. Gone were the memories of Cooky's chi and chase try, Michael Searles side line conversion. Instead it was oh my God they are all over us, we can't keep them out. With an overlap Sam Cleife forced a fumble, ball scooped up by Harry Tankard who fed Sam Busby who raced in from 50m out. Believing it was the last play he veered off and scored in the corner Carlos Spencer style. Refs says there is time for the kick off after the conversion ! Josh Farley now needs the kick to put us 7 ahead, misses it. Ref said the kick chase was a bit rowdy. Farley then does his best impression on Aaron Cruden and slots the second go. We claim the kick off and the win - it felt huge at the time.

Games 16-19
All eyes looked toward the Ryton game as we despatched Hartlepool, Bishop Auckland and Ponteland with ease. So the day arrived and it didn't let anyone down. Boys all got together for brunch for a bit of team building, organised by Louis Matthews. Huge turnout as the Bolam family were doing a Meningitis fundraiser. This time it was Ryton who were missing a key front rower - shown in the first scrum as we turned them over. The whole game was brutal - they carried we whacked them. Our defensive effort was insane at time, getting stuck into much bigger blokes and our scrum dominating. We were on top 14-0 up at half time but probably should've been further ahead. The second half was a grandstand finish as Ryton made it 14-7 and from the next kick off we lost a man to a red card. So here it is - 16 mins left down to 14 men and Ryton on the up. Novos were nothing but heroic in defence - Rob Baldwin leading the way with hit after hit. We even managed to get up pitch despite a stormy wind and push the score out to 17-7 for the win.

Games 20-22
With our noses in front we were never going to slip up as wins at Gateshead, Medicals and this game vs Acklam bringing home the clubs first trophy for 25 years. Celebrations went on long into the night !

An incredible league season with historic wins, record wins and a loss that gave us a kick up the arse.

Too many to thank to name them all but massive shout out to our physio team of Greg, Jess and Hydar. Our coaches who have developed the lads throughout the season - Michael Searle, Matt Dawson, Johnny McSorley and Rob Ogilvie. Our Friday crew led by Andrew Palmer who just works endless for the club as well as Debs Palmer for opening the bar and sorting kit. After that our numerous admin teams - especially Jack Pellew/Tom Dias and Alex Littlefair who have been instrumental. To our Head of Rugby - Nick Cotterill, just relentless commitment ensuring the boys have everything the need to enjoy their rugby and be successful. However, biggest thanks goes to our supporters, friends, families and partners. Without your support we wouldn't be able to play the game.

Rugby for all, rugby for life.