Jarrovians 1's curtain raiser in the league was at home to a talented Seaham team. That was in evidence from the kick off when they collected the ball and glided through an invisible jarrow defence who must have thought they were still in the changing rooms. However for the next 39 minutes jarrovians camped themselves in the opposition 22. Whilst credit is due to the seaham defence jarrow must wonder how they failed to turn that possess into points. Powerful running from Oliver and excellent kicking from Lawrence piled on the pressure but the final ball failed to materialise over the try line. Half time 7-0. Boosted by their possession jarrovians felt confident their dominance would prevail, wrong, from the kick off seaham scored a well worked try 14-0. Jarrow pressed hard and good work from the forwards and a pass to the winger cooper, yes a pass to the winger saw Cooper crash over the line.? Mike Lawrence followed up with an excellent kick from the touch line. 14-7. Unfortunately seaham were not to repeat their first half experience and ran in a further try after pressure on our forwards at the ruck 21-7. Another pass to the jarrow winger saw Cooper repeat his previous feat and jarrovians found themselves in with a chance 21-12. As jarrovians tired a little substitutions were made, they couldn't make the impact as seaham took advantage to score two more tries 33-12. Jarrovians battled to the end and some great work and passing from skipper Ryan and number 8 Oliver to McCulla the other winger so an excellent try scored. At the final whistle the jarrow players frustration and anger was tangible as they all knew their performance and possession deserved more reward. Final score 33-19.
The captain reflected back over the fixture.
I felt we were really unlucky started slow conceded then dominated the rest of first half just couldnt score, second half was same again started slow conceded then made a few mistakes first quarter of second then pulled it together in last quarter couple of late tries just wasnt enough unfortunately possession doesnt win games. We learn from our mistakes and we dont do the same against wallsend next week.

Squad

1. Andy Slator
2. Ryan Pargeter (c)
3. Flinn Beattie
4. Phil McLeod
5. Chris Mcintosh
6. Liam Reay
7. Andy Young
8. Scott Oliver
9. Evaldas Gu
10. Mike Lawrence
11. Dave Mcculla
12. Ian Carroll
13. Nicholas Hepple
14. Andy Cooper
15. Joe Watson

16. Steve Wilson
17. Aaron Keelan
18. Dave Wilson
19. John Gray
20. Zak Walker

Jarrovians II crossed the Tyne to the windswept wastelands of Northumberland to play their opening game of the season against the Ravens.
Travelling with only the bare minimum of players, captain D. Pargeter may have secretly wished for more, but in an inspiring speech he quoted the Bard 'the fewer the men the greater the share of honour'
And what honour they gained, boosted by a couple of Percy Park mercenaries it was Jarrow who opened the scoring when after fine play by Nelson and Grady, who had worked a fine attacking position, new boy Powell ran over the whitewash.
At the end of the half the Ravens clawed the score back but immediately an inspired run by Dowson followed by good link up play by Berry put mercurial scrum half Nelson in under the posts, Johnston converted.
The second half began with the unfortunate Luke Moon having to leave the field after a promising first half. It was the opportunity for Dominic Rutland to make strides out wide and a series of line breaks saw him increase Jarrovians' advantage.
The front 5 had dominated the scrums throughout the game and it was no surprise that Matty Bell crashed over for a try. Johnston again converting.
Ravens were not finished and fine tries saw them back in the game only for their hearts to be broken with Jarrow's 5th try of the Game to seal the victory with Scott Catlin making a cameo appearance.
Final score Ravens 25 Jarrovians 29