NORTHERN 12 DURHAM CITY 14

In a tight, tense affair City came out on top, but it could so easily have gone the other way as a red card reduced Northern to 14 men in the opening quarter of an hour yet still their under-strength pack dominated the set-scrums and their backs posed a continual threat.

In pouring rain, the home side opened well, going ahead as early as the 2nd minute when, after 5 or 6 phases of play, a chip by stand-off Robbie Griffin to the right corner allowed winger Theo Aubrey to touch down. Griffin was wide with the conversion, but they were flying and, with City lock Kevin Showler retiring injured to be replaced by Jack Cahill, they controlled and only great defence on one occasion by full-back Nathan Bushnell saved the visitors.

By the interval, the score remained at 5 – 0, the first half being punctuated by midfield penalties but with Northern still in the ascendency. But back came City early in the second period, big forward pressure on the Northern line following a lineout 15 metres out eventually producing an opening in the 48th minute which centre Josh White shot through from 5 metres to race round to the posts for the try and allowing scrum-half Paul Armstrong a simple conversion.

With City now 5 – 7 up, the depleted home pack inevitably started to flag as the half went on and, after both sides had missed penalty kicks at goal, City threatened more and more before they extended their advantage after 67 minutes when a Northern lineout 15 metres from their goal line was overthrown and City replacement Andy Kirkup fed No.8 Peter Dent who strode through a couple of tackles to score their second try. Armstrong converted and, at 5 – 14, Northern suddenly needed 2 scores to win.

They rose to the challenge well. Intense pressure on the City line was resisted as they hit back, but the ever-present threat of their backs was finally realised 3 minutes from the end when centre Nyle Godsmark sliced through the middle and partner Will Atkins finished off for their second try. Griffin converted to close the gap to 2 points, but it was too little, too late!