Houghton secure victory with 10 try romp

Houghton started the 2017-18 campaign with a fine bonus point victory over local derby rivals Chester-Le-Street. The home side were in good spirits after playing some good rugby throughout the preseason and continued into the first league game. After a excellent warm up, which seen the players focused on the task ahead. The starting fifteen did not take long to establish a lead and continuously pressed to score from every opportunity. Straight from the kick off a good take by the home forwards saw the first attack. After two quickly recycled rucks the backs were given their first opportunity and ceased the moment. Excellent hands from the midfield, saw D.Bearn loop around the G.Bennet on the left wing, who drew in the last defender before an beautifully timed pass allowed him to score, Bearn converting. The next few minutes seen Chester competing well at the breakdown but this didn't last long as Houghton's quick backrow turned over the ball. The quick turn seen Houghton's backs released again, this time secondrow forward A.Widdowfield was on the hoof. He sold a dummy before drawing the offloading the ball to winger Bennet skipped past he's marker to score a good try. From the kick off Houghton built some steady pressure and after a serious of rucks found them selves in the Chester 22. Houghton switched play from left to right and winger M.Wiley found himself bundled over the line for the ref to award the try. From the restart a mistake by the home forwards allowed Chester to pressurise the Houghton backline. A fumble in midfield seen a good pick up by Chester, which seen there fullback dnace around 4 players before racing under the post to score a converted. The score seemed to motivate Houghton who began to attack with venom through new signing D.Witte. The flyhalf delivered an excellent pass which seen centre J.Ross burst trough a gap, drawing in all the defenders before popping off to the support Turton. Houghton scored a further two tries in the first half through Wiley and Douglas, Bearn converting. H/T
The home side rang the changes at half time with R.Pink replacing Douglass, D.Jones replacing A.Reay and T.Birtley on for Bennet. The changes did not interrupt the game plan of the home side with scores coming quick and regularly. The second half seen tries from secondrow Widdowfield, before Wiley and the returning Douglass scored again completing their hatricks. Bearn had an excellecent afternoon with the boot converting 9 of the 10 kicks. Overall the coaching staff were pleased with the performance of the side. We had 85% lineout ratio win and the forwards held there own in the scrums against a big Chester pack. The backline were very good with communication across the board excellent.
Houghton's Man of the Match award was a split. With new signing Daz Witte and hatrick hero Mark Douglass both scoring 35 points each.