DURHAM CITY 71 SOUTH SHIELDS WESTOE 0

Against a spirited but under-strength Westoe side, City dominated from first to last whistle in all departments scoring 11 unanswered tries and doing their points difference the power of good in the Regional 2 North League.

From the kick-off, they were all over their opponents both in the forward exchanges and in the backs and, centre Craig Dominick having opened the scoring from a quickly-taken penalty after 5 minutes, they followed it up 2 minutes later when full-back Josh White got their second try on the right and centre James Coxon and flanker Chris Metcalfe added another couple to clinch the 4-try bonus point by the 16th minute and a 26 – 0 lead, scrum-half Paul Armstrong having converted 3 of them.

With the forwards having a field-day in both the set and loose, it was only a matter of time before the lead was extended and by the interval they had added a further 3 tries, Coxon supporting a break by stand-off Alex Garden for the fifth and No.8 Peter Dent adding 2 more from close-range following scrums near the Westoe line. Armstrong and Coxon added a conversion apiece and City led 45 – 0 at the break.

With replacements coming and going throughout the second-half and concentration lapsing a little, it was no surprise they were not quite as cohesive as they were earlier. But still the scores came. Good work by winger Matt Quinn and hooker Mark Davison opened the way for winger Brad Pears to finish off a big overlap, replacement prop Will Hodgson and Dent combined for Armstrong to nip over in the corner following a lineout steal and, in the last quarter, Dominick drove from a penalty for Davison to score before Pears added his second and City’s 11th try to finish off some great continuity play after a good pick-up by Metcalfe.

Armstrong added two more conversions and Coxon one in the second -half to leave City convincing winners.

CITY: Josh White, Matt Quinn, Craig Dominick, James Coxon, Brad Pears; Alex Garden, Paul Armstrong ©; Reece Amir, Mark Davison, Clem O’Rourke, Kyle Wilson, Kev Showler, Chris Metcalfe, Will Seymour, Peter Dent.

Replacements: Niall Pace, Will Hodgson, Scott Rochester.