DURHAM CITY 18 WHEATLEY HILLS 7

In wet conditions, they set the early pace with play concentrated around the visitors’ 22, the pressure only being relieved, briefly, by an interception and 60 metre break by Wheatley Hills scrum-half Ian Barker. But although they quickly established control in the loose and maintained it throughout, breaking down the visitors’ determined defence proved difficult.

It was not until the 26th minute that they went ahead, centre Arnie Stevenson kicking a simple 15 metre penalty for offside to get their noses in front at 3 – 0.

But just before the interval, the warning bells rang as Wheatley Hills grabbed their first real attacking opportunity. City conceded a penalty and from the lineout that resulted, Barker broke and fed supporting lock Dan Undy for a try which stand-off Guy Townsley converted and suddenly City were behind.

The home threat was renewed immediately after half-time however, winger Chris Metcalfe just failing to gather a chip over the defence by stand-off Richard Knowles, before a 5 metre lineout 3 minutes into the half allowed them to catch and drive flanker Jeff Roberts over for a try to recover the lead at 8 – 7.

But although the half was played almost entirely in Wheatley Hills’ territory, a 40 metre penalty attempt by Townsley being about as far as they were allowed to venture upfield, their defence held firm, even when reduced to 14 men when No.8 Gaz Burns was yellow-carded.

The pressure was building however and in the 70th minute City extended their lead to 11 – 7, Stevenson kicking a second penalty, and the cracks in the visitors’ defence then started to show as the City forwards pounded away at them in their 22.

Twice they were held up over the line from driven lineouts and once from a scrum, before they finally got their reward for a fine afternoon’s work when No.8 Howard Johnson picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and they drove for Roberts to score his second try which Stevenson converted to round off a good team performance.

Tomorrow, City travel to Gateshead for another League match (KO 3.00pm)

CITY: Paul Armstrong; Chris Metcalfe, Arnie Stevenson, Will Kirtley, Jonny Harding; Richard Knowles, Thomas Howard; Ian Russell, Mike Hay, Neil Hart, Peter Dent (capt), Stuart Smithson, Darren McKinnon, Jeff Roberts, Howard Johnson.

Replacements: Kenny Reader, Richard Turnbull, Jack Johnson.