WELCOME It gives me great pleasure to welcome back to Acklam Park for their second visit of the season our old friends from Sheffield. That first visit was a Yorkshire Cup match in those heady far off days of summer, a game which was a cracker and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. We started well and could have notched up a brace of tries in the first 15 minutes but Sheffield broke through the centre to take a five point lead. Two penalties from Simon gave us a slender lead with half time approaching but our opponents again burst through to add another five points. Five minutes after the break they stretched their lead to 13-6 but we drew level with a Connor/Simon combination with ten minutes to go. However Sheffield added another eight points to win 21-13 and a tie at Cleckheaton, where we wish them well.

Unfortunately our visitors have not been able to carry that winning form into the league, where they lie bottom with one win from eight games. That solitary win was by 18-12 at home to Alnwick and followed five straight defeats against, in order, Pocklington, Driffield (still Driffield's only win to date), O Crossleyans, Cleckheaton and Northern. Pointedly the Cleckheaton match was the only one at home; in fact Alnwick was only their second home match and last Saturday was their third one, losing 37-7 to Wheatley Hills. A fortnight ago, when we were beating Northern to move off the bottom, they lost their sixth game at Morpeth, where they took a 12-0 lead into the break but the game took its toll and Sheffield had to replace five injured players before conceding 17 unanswered second half points.

LEAGUE RUGBY Although our defeat at O Crossleyans three weeks ago sunk us to last place in the league there were plenty positive signs that our form was continuing to improve. This improvement was certainly evident in our next game when we climbed up the table with our five tries to one 29-10 win against Northern. With three selected forwards not able to play – Shaun Kay withdrew with an injured foot, Jack Pierce's wife was about to give birth and in the end Lee Theakston was unable to return from London – Richie Horton was pressed into making his first appearance of the season and played at open side! And of course we benefited enormously from the return to midfield of skipper Rob Bellerby. We were on the scoreboard after only four minutes when pressure produced a try for Phil 'Frenchie' Harland, converted by Matty Todd. The next 30 minutes were fairly even with Northern kicking a penalty before we pulled away either side of half-time with tries by Connor and Ash, who finished a move in the corner. A good tackle by Rhys resulted in a loose ball for Connor's try and the winger also made the running for the fourth try by Matty Todd before capping off a great individual performance by scoring the final one himself straight after Northern scored. Rob converted this fifth and final try.

Unfortunately we followed up this victory by losing 30-12 at Morpeth, where we conceded a try after only four minutes. We then gave as good as we got in an even first half until Morpeth added a penalty to take an 8-0 lead. We lost both our half-backs around half-time, with Connor picking up a leg injury and Peter a badly-swollen foot. The injuries were followed by another Morpeth try shortly after half-time before Matty Todd, who had switched from full back to scrum half, darted over from a scrum after 50 minutes. However almost immediately Morpeth scored a converted try and added another to take a 30-5 lead before Brad drove over from a scrum converted by Simon, playing at fly half.
OTHER GAMES A couple of weeks ago the Lions played Whitby IIs, away, and despite playing their socks off they lost 13-3. That was the only blemish on the Board, with the Wasps beating Northern, away, 14-12 and the 'A' team beating Guisborough 21-12 (report on p9) maintaining their 100 per cent record to date. Last week the Wasps were at Novocastrians and chalked up a 36-12 win, their fifth in five games. Meanwhile, with one eye on their huge defeat by the Lions earlier in the season South Tyneside College decided discretion was the better part of valour and pulled out of the fixture with the 'A' team, but after some uncertainty about player availability West Hartlepool did in the end travel over to meet the Lions; our boys won 37-10.

COLTS RUGBY Congratulations to Ben Learwood, who made his debut for Yorkshire U18s on Sunday against Cheshire at Carlisle. He scored a first half try in Yorkshire's 49-17 win over Cheshire. Well done Ben; one of the cornerstones of the team for many years this honour is thoroughly deserved. In addition Old Boys Lorcan O'Donnell and Dan Osborn (who haven't played for us this year as they're at the Falcons Academy) both played for Durham with Tom Mavin, who has played for us this season, came on as a sub and scored two tries to win the game against Lancashire by a point. And more honours for Josh Bainbridge, who is one of the Leeds Academy contingent; he has been called into the England Elite U18 training squad, along with Lewis Boyce. Many congratulation all round on a fine set of achievements. We are all very proud of their efforts.

Ben's mates turned out for the combined U17s/U18s game at Bishop Auckland on Sunday; an exciting and close match it was eventually won by Bishop 17-15. A week earlier the Senior Colts (U18s) travelled to Alnwick and also lost by two points. In a real ding-dong battle the score ended 28-26, with our young men performing heroics. One of Budgie's inimitable match reports appears on page 4. The same day the Junior Colts (U17s) also travelled up the road, to Jarrovians, and returned with a very healthy 50-28 victory. (See p16 for the Juniors Report.)

CLUB NEWS There was a good crowd here last Saturday when we were pleased to host the U19s Academy game between Newcastle Falcons and Gloucester. The Falcons fielded several 17 year-olds whereas I understand the Gloucester team had played together from last year. This showed. Although Newcastle clawed their way back to 17-22 from 0-22, and were definitely in contention during the third quarter they eventually lost 17-39.

Get your diaries out now and make a note of the following dates. On Tuesday come along to see our fantastico and deservedly renowned Guy Fawkes celebrations; into December there will be a Heaviest Hair weigh-in, to be judged in the function room on Friday 5th when all shaven facial hair will be dumped on the scales, in aid of the U16s tour; our Christmas Lunch will take place before the Wheatley Hills match on 14th, with the humongous Grand Draw the following evening; the 5th Annual Acklam Park Pie Baking Competition will be held on Tuesday the following week, the 17th, with our sometimes haunting, sometimes raucous Carol Sing-a-long two nights later.

SPONSORS We are delighted to welcome back to Acklam Park Bill Blakey, Director of Kaefer C&D Ltd of Jarrow, and his guests; we hope you have a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Kaefer C&D is a progressive and innovative organisation offering a complete outfitting package to all sectors of industry, including the offshore sector and is one of the UK's leading integrated service providers to the private and public sectors. The company has over 850 employees and 12 branch offices located throughout England, Scotland and Wales The Kaefer Group is one of the world's largest industrial services companies active in over 50 countries with a workforce of over 18,000.

REFEREE'S CORNER I am delighted to welcome Colin Tovey back to Acklam Park this afternoon. Colin is a dentist from Wakefield who played his rugby with Leeds Medics, Headingley and West Park Bramhope; he is well equipped to police the 'dark arts' – he was a hooker! He has been refereeing for 24 years and has been in charge of at least two of our matches – against Sandal what must have been about ten years ago now, and more latterly when Gateshead were the visitors the season before last. I hope Colin enjoys his time with us this afternoon.

I am also pleased to welcome Paul Garbutt who I'm sure will keep the Wasps/Rovers match in order this afternoon. I just love his email address – deadlyshrek@...! Incidentally I sent the Club's best wishes to referee Simon Parks who was so impressive in our match with Alnwick but who fractured a kneecap in the Wheatley Hills v Cleckheaton game; he replied that he cannot weight-bear for two months and then the rehab starts...ouch!

AND FINALLY – GOOD LUCK TO ENGLAND