Berwick Bears 19 Alnwick 2nds 0

Having not had a game of rugby since December 5th, to say that the Berwick players were keen to play would have been an understatement. So when the referee cast doubt on the fitness of the pitch due to some mild dampness in certain areas, team manager Matt Cooper was dispatched with a squeegee to remove the offending water.

With his safety fears allayed the ref. checked his pea and with a mighty blast of his whistle got this local derby underway. Despite the heavy conditions underfoot the Bears took control of the game dominating possession and the backs looking threatening. However as is the blight of the modern game no sooner had 4 or 5 phases been put together than someone would put boot to ball, therefore conceding possession and allowing the opposition to regroup. This brought a verbose and volumous triad from the man with the squeegee. The level of kicking reduced and the threat to the Alnwick line increased, with the Berwick players showing good handling. Angus Brown and Neil Graham controlled things well in the centres, giving Lee Douglas, back on a mid tour break from Afghanistan, room for a couple of good breaks which with better underfoot conditions, could well have lead to tries. After 21 minutes a series of good driving charges by the forwards allowed the ball to be moved out to the left where Tommy Wilkinson joined the line from full back to go straight though the Alnwick defence to score.

The Bears continued to dominate for the rest of the half with James Patterson bossing the forwards well from Scrum half, and young Jamie Pick distributing well from Stand off. The forwards ploughed through the mud with tenacity, with well-controlled pick and drives, and effective clearing out of defenders at the breakdown. When the half time whistle blew the Bears were unlucky to be only 5 points ahead having spent most of the first half camped in the Alnwick half.

Invigorated by their half time oranges the Bears ripped into Alnwick from the kick off with Robert Exley crossing the line after 90 seconds for what was a well worked team try, which was converted by Angus Brown. Berwick again dominated possession and territory in the 2nd half, with really only Berwick indiscretions giving Alnwick penalties to relieve the pressure. Alnwick’s most dangerous attack came from a line out in the Berwick 22 following a penalty. A clean catch led to Alnwick setting up a driving maul that was edging its way to the Berwick line. Up popped Mark Loveday, looking Grizzly Adamesque with his new facial fuzz, who having got the ball in his bear like paws, refused to let go, winning Berwick the put in to the ensuing scrum.

As the 2nd half drew on the abundance of mud and the failing light made identifying players more and more difficult, it became so bad the Robert Exley tackled one of his own team-mates. To make up for this faux pas Exley crossed the line again in the 78th minute, which Angus Brown again converted. Trying to salvage a little pride Alnwick came back hard at Berwick for the last couple of minutes, but the Bears defence held out until full time.

The Bears play Alnwick again on 20th Feb this time in the County Cup but if the Bears can perform like this again a semi final place should be assured.