DURHAM CITY 22 STOCKTON 12

Totally dominant in the opening quarter, they tore the visitors to pieces running from everywhere and spurning several very simple penalty chances at goal to maintain the pressure. Their reward was 3 tries, another disallowed, and a 17 – 0 lead within 12 minutes and a landslide victory looked probable.

But the bigger Stockton pack eventually woke up to gain the upper hand and for the next 40 minutes it was City who were forced to defend as they were starved of possession. That they emerged from that period still 17 – 5 ahead spoke volumes for the strength of that defence, and suddenly the backs were running freely again but never to quite the same effect as earlier.

A break by centre Darren Witte in the second minute as they ran from halfway got them off to a fine start, centre Arnie Stevenson picking up to score when Witte was stopped 3 metres out. 2 minutes later, scrum-half Paul Armstrong chipped the ball wide following a couple of thrusts and full-back Rob Smith gathered to score, Armstrong converting for a 12 – 0 lead.

Three times in the next few minutes they opted for scrums when awarded penalties within 10 metres of the visitors’ line as they piled on the pressure, but Stockton having cleared, the third try after 12 minutes came as they ran from a ruck in their own 22, Stevenson making a lot of ground into the opposition half and Witte supporting well to run it in from 25 metres.

Stockton’s response came after half an hour when their forwards were gaining the ascendency, prop Stuart Barrass getting the touchdown from a catch and driven lineout and at half-time City led 17- 5.

The visitors continued to press after the interval without ever really threatening a solid defence until the 62 minute when City suddenly burst into life again, stand-off Tom Hodgson breaking from a scrum 5 metre from his own line and Smith, after a 50 metre run, being tackled just short of the Stockton line.

Moments later, after several attacks from close range, Armstrong scored in the corner from a ruck on the line to stretch the lead to 22 – 5, but the last word was Stockton’s from the final play of the game when they created an overlap following a 5 metre scrum for full-back Dan Phinn to stroll over wide out and then convert.

Tomorrow, City travel to fifth-placed Guisborough (KO. 2.15pm)

CITY: Rob Smith; David Gibson, Darren Witte, Arnie Stevenson, Nick Howe; Tom Hodgson, Paul Armstrong (c); Colin Hogg, Kenny Reader, Benny Parkinson, Matthew Sayer, Tom Baty, Chris Metcalfe, Richard Knowles, Jeff Roberts.

Replacements : Tim Mackay, Will Paxton, Will Kirtley.