Northern FC

1st XV won 48 – 15 away to Horden & Peterlee. Match report thanks to Alan Belford:

On a dull but relatively calm day with a pitch in good order, conditions suited Northern’s expansive play the game didn’t disappoint.

Northern were on the attack from the off and within 3 minutes had registered their first try when full back Nathan Williams on an angled run took an inside pass to score, the conversion being added by Cam Walker. Further Northern pressure yielded firstly a Cam Walker penalty, then with a free ball after another Horden infringement, a lovely Crossfield kick by that man Cam Walker again was collected by James Hamer on the wing for a neat try.  Northern’s normally slick lineout was misfiring and an overthrow lead to Horden taking the ball into the Northern half and they were awarded a long range penalty which their fly half kicked with a fine strike. From the restart, the Horden lock was yellow carded after a clumsy challenge for taking out Alex Surry in the air. From the penalty Northern kicked for the attacking line out and after winning possession the ball was spun out to Joe Young who powered through and touched down under the posts, Cam Walker adding the extras. Horden were awarded another penalty from the restart but their fly half was short with the kick but Northern turned over the ball after taking it back into the Horden half and a good move saw the impressive Horden outside centre breach the defensive line and step the full back to score just on half time with their fly half converting to reduce the lead.

Half time Horden 10 Northern 22.

Northern replaced the injured Ben Reid at the break with Patrick Douglas coming on to prop and then straight from the kick off, Nathan Whitworth scored a lovely individual try swerving and accelerating past the floundering Horden defenders to dot down under the posts for the bonus point try that Cam Walker converted. Northern lost concentration and for once, their impressive defence was disorganised and the Horden left wing ran in unopposed from 30 metres to score out wide. Northern emptied their bench with Gareth Little (on debut) replacing the injured Nathan Williams and Chris Ure replacing James Hamer on the wing. Northern upped the pressure and from an offensive line out a brilliant catch and drive for fully 35 metres ended with Patrick Douglas scoring. With Northern unrelenting, another forward drive resulted in the recycled ball being moved wide to Gareth Little who ran in for the sixth try which Cam Walker improved. Northern hadn’t finished and further interplay between the pack ended up with that man, Chalky White, keeping up his record of scoring in every game so far when he barged over for the final try which Ali Gray (taking over the kicking duties from Cam Walker) calmly converted. Final score Horden 15 Northern 48.

With 5 changes from the previous week and Johnny Thandi making his league debut in the front row this was a solid performance and a good win to keep momentum and pressure on the league leaders Consett. Next week we host Medicals who have had a good start to their season and are sitting comfortable in mid table. All support will be most welcome. Your regular correspondent, Walter Ritchie is away this week.