Durham City 31- 3 Gateshead

It was not all plain-sailing however. Already struggling with a lengthy forwards’ injury list, their cause was not helped by another to hooker Mike Hay resulting in his withdrawal just before the kick-off, and Gateshead generally controlled the scrums and lineouts throughout. But against a rock-solid City defence they could make no headway, and with the home pack scavenging superbly to dominate the loose play, their backs created havoc almost at will.

Centre Darren Witte led the way in the 3rd minute, supporting a 30 metre break from his own half by full-back Rob Smith and taking an inside pass to brush off a tackle on a 25 metre run to the line.

Twice more they created clear-cut opportunities only for the final pass to let them down before Gateshead full-back Scott Cartner kicked a penalty after half an hour to get them into the game.

But City would not be denied. A series of thrusts in the visitors’ 22 saw stand-off Tom Hodgson stopped a metre out but quick rucking by the pack and a long pass put Smith over in the corner to give them a 10 – 3 interval lead.

Winger Chris Metcalfe added their third try in the 57th minute after the Gateshead pack had threatened with a short period of pressure in the home 22, Smith again making ground up the middle and the ball being spun wide from a quickly-won ruck. Scrum-half Paul Armstrong converted and at 17 – 3, City were well clear.

Witte got his second try taking a long Hodgson pass to step inside the cover and score following another fine attack and excellent rucking with 5 minutes remaining, Armstrong again converting and, in the 4th minute of injury-time when flanker Richard Knowles dived over in the corner from a ruck on the visitors’ line, he repeated the dose with a great kick from the touchline to leave City very worthy winners.

On Saturday, City are at home again to Stockton (KO. 2.15pm)

CITY: Rob Smith; Chris Metcalfe, Darren Witte, Arnie Stevenson, David Gibson; Tom Hodgson, Paul Armstrong (c); Colin Hogg, Graeme Herbert, Benny Parkinson, Matthew Sayer, Kyle Wilson, Richard Knowles, Grant Thompson, Jeff Roberts

Replacements: Nick Howe, Aaron Burns, Gareth Pratt.