1st XV
Matches
Sat 25 Jan 2014  ·  Durham & Northumberland 1
Durham City Rugby Football Club
1st XV
3
31
Horden
DURHAM CITY    3    HORDEN    31

DURHAM CITY 3 HORDEN 31

Graeme Elliott30 Jan 2014 - 09:46
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Durham and Northumberland 1 League leaders Horden produced a convincing display on a very heavy, wet Hollow Drift pitch which could have been tailor-made for their big, well-drilled forwards to gain a very worthy victory and extend their League lead to 7

From the outset, it was clear that their pack would be the dominant factor in the game with the City forwards, who to their credit never voluntarily took a backward step, simply out-muscled in the set-pieces and unable to stop the visitors’ big driving mauls.

Yet it was City who took an early lead, scrum-half Paul Armstrong kicking a penalty after 5 minutes. It was short-lived however as a sharp break by Horden scrum-half Luke Watson took play to the home 22 and when City collapsed the scrum that resulted, having been driven back 15 metres, a penalty try was awarded which stand-off Andrew Turner duly converted and the visitors were on their way.

By the interval they had extended their lead to 14 – 3, another big drive at the City line after 25 minutes ending with Watson getting the touchdown for Turner to again convert, and although both sides tried to run the ball in open play, it was a forwards’ day and the conditions and strong defences prevailed.

Any chance of a City recovery effectively disappeared just after the interval however, when they were pushed off the ball at a scrum 5 metres out and No.8 Paul Jones touched down. Turner’s conversion took the lead to 21 – 3, flanker Kieron Forbes extended it after 67 minutes with their fourth try from a ruck 5 metres out, and 5 minutes later, lock Michael Thubron rounded it off with their fifth from a catch and driven lineout to give his side a well-deserved win.

City have no game tomorrow.

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

Replacements: David Atkinson, Nick Howe, Mike Hay.

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Jan 2014

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Durham & Northumberland 1
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - MGL Group
Club Sponsor - Fred Henderson Ltd
Player Sponsor - EMC Ltd
Player Sponsor - Scott Heppell
Player Sponsor - Armstrong Environmental Ltd
Player Sponsor - Northstar Ventures
Player Sponsor - Scrimger and Oakes
Kit Sponsor - Roberts Environmental Ltd
Kit Sponsor - Dracup Financial Services