DURHAM CITY 46 CONSETT 49

With late cry-offs forcing City to re-jig the whole of their back division, they were on the defensive from the kick-off and went behind in the 3rd minute, Consett scrum-half Joe Trott diving over for their first try from a ruck on the City line.

But within 10 minutes, two tries by Tim Mackay, playing in the unaccustomed position of winger, put them ahead at 10 – 5, the first with an impressive side-step and the second finishing off a blindside attack from a 5 metre scrum.

By the interval however, Consett had established a 20 – 10 advantage, stand-off Alex Paulus breaking to score their second try and adding a penalty before flanker Ryan Williams took the final pass to score when they intercepted at a scrum.

However, two City tries within 5 minutes of the re-start, by hooker Kenny Reader and lock Liam Wilson, both from catch and driven lineouts and one converted by stand-off Paul Armstrong, put them back in the lead at 22 – 20, only for Consett centre Haydn Petch to retaliate with a fine try when they ran from their own 22.

Further City tries by scrum-half Will Paxton and winger Rick Turnbull, one of which Paxton converted opened up a 9 point home lead again at 34 – 25, but Consett recovered scoring 3 further tries through centre Luke Draper and Paulus, all of which Trott converted, and with City’s seventh try by City No.8 Peter Dent converted by Paxton squeezed into the middle of them to take the score to 41 – 46 in the visitors’ favour with 8 minutes left, it was still either side’s game.

A fine 40 metre penalty by Trott just about settled it however, and whilst City’s Dent raced 40 metres for his second try which Paxton converted and they pressed to the end, the spoils finally went to the visitors.

CITY: Rob Smith; Rick Turnbull, Chris Metcalfe, Richard Knowles, Tim Mackay: Paul Armstrong (c), Will Paxton; Mike Hay, Kenny Reader, Kyle Wilson, Tom Baty, Liam Wilson, Joe Maw, Andrew Brown, Peter Dent.

Replacements: Matt Sayer, Jim Earley, Howard Johnson.