Egremont Colts opened their season away to Billingham, their first endeavour in the established North East of England league. It was a well fought game and a promising start for the Colts, but Billingham came away with a 27-12 victory.
A Billingham blind side attack resulted in an early try.
The continued building of phases from Egremont, including stampeding runs from Joe Moore and Aaron Turnbull, gave Billy Thompson the time and space to loft an elegant kick, which was gathered by Jamie Brown, to score Egremont’s equalising try. The conversion from the educated boot of Joseph Brennan gave the Colts a 2-point lead.
Excellent defence from Sam Agnew, Jack Gascoyne and Lewis Barwise held off the home team forwards’ turbulent charges, but a quickly-taken penalty meant the Billingham scrum half could sneak through a small gap to double the home team’s score and take back the lead. The score stood at 10-7 at half time.
The second half began with Egremont’s Declan Walmsley tearing into Billingham’s line. However, a long defensive shift from Egremont on their own try line culminated in a Billingham winger sliding in for a try in the corner.
The Colts replied instantly with smooth ball handling from Dan Starkie, Kieran Fox and Rogan Moss, as well as excellent orchestrating of play from centre Jack Kellet and Billy Thompson. This brought the Egremont side gradually closer to their opponents’ line and super sub Will Addyman stretched out an arm to score an honourable debut try.

Cameron Wood and Connor McCluskey were now throwing the kitchen sink at Billingham -orchestrating superb sequences of weaving, offloading, rampaging rugby. The home side weathered the storm and once again their scrum half proved the Cumbrian’s nemesis, slipping through a chink in Egremont’s defence to spring a counter attack which resulted in another try.

Visitors Brett Fairclough and Ryan Cruden redoubled their efforts and it seemed they must score a consolation try. Cruel luck intervened again when Jack Kellett turned an ankle in giving a scoring pass, Billingham intercepted and once again were away to finish the scoring for the day