MIDDLESBROUGH 45 DURHAM CITY 13

Middlesbrough certainly deserved their victory, but a couple of tries in the closing minutes gave them a flattering final scoreline as the visitor, with numerous personnel changes again, struggled for cohesion.

A catch and driven lineout 4 minutes into the game put the hosts ahead, hooker Richard Horton getting the touchdown for Jack Bircham to convert, and although City countered with a penalty by stand-off Arnie Stevenson after 12minutes, they stamped themselves on the game 2 minutes later when scrum-half Peter Wright broke on the short side of a ruck 10 metres out for their second try which Bircham converted for a 14 – 3 lead.

10 minutes of huge City pressure on the home line followed before scrum-half Paul Armstrong was stopped darting for the line, but with the defence sucked in, full-back Rob Smith eventually scored as they released the ball to the backs.

But Boro quickly re-asserted themselves, stand-off Simon O’Farrell with an inside break going over for a try 4 minutes later after forward pressure on the City line, Bircham converting, and then following it up a couple of minutes before the interval with their fourth try through centre Rob Bellerby who sliced through a stretched defence, following a series of forward pick and drives, to give his side a 26 – 8 lead.

12 minutes into the second half, when a promising City attack broke down, the counter by Boro was decisive, winger Connor Foley kicking ahead from halfway and winning a race for the touchdown. Bircham again converted, and whilst City countered with a good try by winger Max Bailey after Smith had opened the way from a ruck 30 metres out to reduce the arrears to 33 – 13, second tries for both Foley and O’Farrell in the final couple of minutes sealed the honours for the home side.

Tomorrow, City are away to fellow-strugglers Darlington (KO. 2.15pm)

CITY: Rob Smith; Max Bailey, Chris Metcalfe, Paddy Dias, Owen Hughes; Arnie Stevenson, Paul Armstrong; Colin Hogg, Dave Farrar, Neil Hart, Nicholas Gandilhon, Jonathon Deighton, Liam Wilson, Jeff Roberts, Peter Dent (c).

Replacements: Nick Howe, Graeme Herbert, Damian Quinn.