DURHAM CITY 66 MEDICALS 35

There was little doubt about the outcome of this Durham & Northumberland 1 League match from the outset.

There was little doubt about the outcome of this Durham & Northumberland 1 League match from the outset. Played on the Durham University artificial surface, City secured a 4 try bonus point within 23 minutes and thereafter ran in a further 6 tries to complete a comprehensive win that keeps them clear at the top of the table.

To the visitors’ credit however, their spirit was magnificent. Having picked up a couple of tries in the middle of a pounding, they kept the faith and, as City relaxed in the last 10 minutes, ran from everywhere and suddenly came up with a further 3 tries to register a bonus point of their own.

It was a procession early on though as City dominated possession and ran with a power and purpose Medicals were unable to counter. Stand-off Craig Dominick led the way crossing for the first try after 6 minutes following a lineout, winger Tom Elliott ran strongly for the next two and centre Bradley Pears followed it up stepping on the outside to score as they attacked in the left corner.

Scrum-half Paul Armstrong converted all 4 tries for a 28 – 0 lead before Medicals responded, full-back Rickards going through a defensive gap to score from a good attack by the visitors. Centre Henry Parkinson converted to reduce the leeway, but it proved to be a minor hiccup for City as Dominick and centre Chris Metcalfe added two more, one of which Armstrong converted for a 40 – 7 half-time City lead.

Hooker Mark Davison extended it after the re-start and although Medicals winger Matthew Horrocks got one back for the visitors which Parkinson converted, City ploughed on to score three further tries through No.8 Peter Dent, Dominick, completing his hat-trick, and Davison again with Armstrong adding the conversions to take the score to 66 – 14.

But uncowed, then came the unlikely Medicals response, No. 8 Griffiths scoring from a ruck on the City line, hooker Andrew Bath going 20 metres to finish off some good off-loading and finally Horrocks going under the posts for his second try as they ran from halfway. Parkinson converted all three, and whilst City may not have been unduly concerned, the visitors had certainly made a point!