MORPETH 27 DURHAM CITY 26

For a subbstantial part of this Regional 2 North League match, a home win seemed inevitable as Morpeth controlled generally and built a 17 – 7 lead within the opening half-hour. But City hung on, reduced the leeway to 20 – 12 at the interval only to seemingly be disappearing out of sight as Morpeth extended their advantage to 27 – 12 early in the second half, but then came roaring back in the last third, take control and add two converted tries to reduce the arrears to a single point and put the outcome well and truly in the balance.

Early Morpeth pressure yielded a try after 8 minutes for flanker Alex Thompson as they went through phase after phase with City scarcely touching the ball. But 3 minutes later, on almost their first visit to the home 22, a quickly-taken penalty saw No.8 Peter Dent drive and from the ruck on the line, hooker Owen Chaplin dived over for a try and scrum-half Paul Armstrong converted for what seemed an unlikely 5 – 7 lead at that stage.

So it proved in the next 20 minutes, Morpeth’s control producing further tries by No.8 Elliott Clark from close-range and stand-off Callum Burgess with a fine break, one of which Burgess converted together with a penalty to stretch their lead to 20 – 7.

Importantly though, City hit back two minutes before the interval, huge pressure on the home line ending with flanker Jack Moralee crashing over for their second try following countless drives to keep them in touch at half-time.

However, a fourth Morpeth try 5 minutes into the second period by flanker Ian Grieve which Burgess converted for their 27 – 12 lead seemed to have restored normality, but slowly City came more and more into it as the half progressed. Good runs by stand-off James Coxon and wingers Will Elliott and Matt Quinn might have produced more, but with 12 minutes remaining they got their reward, longstanding replacement forward Andy Kirkup going over for his first-ever senior try from close-range before centre Josh White raced round behind the posts 3 minutes later for their bonus-point fourth try.

Armstrong converted them both, the deficit was suddenly a single point, nerves were frayed, but Morpeth held on for a win that, overall, they probably deserved.

On Saturday, City travel to Northern (KO 3.00pm).

CITY: Scott Rochester; Matt Quinn, Nathan Bushnell, Josh White, Will Elliott; James Coxon, Paul Armstrong ©; Will Hodgson, Owen Chaplin, Clem O’Rourke, Kev Showler, Chris Metcalfe, Jack Moralee, Will Jewitt, Peter Dent.

Replacements: Andy Kirkup, Max Bailey, Howard Johnson.