WELCOME I am pleased to offer the players, officers and supporters of Beverley a warm welcome to Acklam Park – at least I hope it is warmer than their scheduled visit two months ago, the postponement of which, unfortunately for them, meant they lost out on joining us for Christmas lunch!

Before this season we last met five years ago, when we were both in N1E. Beverley beat us home and away that season, but we were not they only victims – they finished in first place with a very impressive 119 points and an equally impressive points difference of 893. Unfortunately after finishing a respectable fifth in National 3 North they returned to N1E the following year and then fell back into Y1. They began this league season away at York, where they were two points ahead with seconds remaining, but lost 35-34 – what a gut-wrencher! We were their next opponents in a match which fell into three parts. The first and last 20 minutes were all Beverley and the middle 40 all us, but the balance of scoring was a little more uneven, and we lost 28-12. In total they have lost only four league games, with only one home defeat, against Hullensians. They are currently on a roll of eight consecutive victories – their last defeat was at Scarborough in mid-November. Their only other reversal was at O Brods. Let's hope for an entertaining game on this International weekend.

LEAGUE RUGBY As we stood here for our last home game against O Rishworthians we were aware of their increasingly strong performances – and that's how the game progressed, as they got more and more dangerous with no let-up in their endeavour. Six points ahead at half time I hoped we would pull away playing with the slope, but in fact it took dogged resistance to keep them at bay. We won 19-13, 3 tries to 2, 2 conversions to a penalty, and although we were never behind every time we scored Rish replied with a score of their own. We took a 7 point lead when Baggy's inch-perfect cross-field kick fell into Rhys's arms for him to gallop across the line. Rish scored 5 points before Rhys and Baggy made it 14-5. We then withstood tremendous pressure to go into the break 14-8 up. The second half was a real ding-dong of a contest, with each side adding 5 points in the final quarter, in our case with Kieran crashing over the line for his fourth try of the season.

We followed this with a difficult trip to O Brodleians, some people's early-season favourites for promotion and beaten at home only once to date (by Scarborough), and we were without several regulars, Not only was Conner unavailable, but Sam couldn't travel, so Matty Todd played at No 9 for the first time since Methuselah was a lad. The pack was without Kieran, playing in Durham U20s opening fixture, and Euan, and then Richie Lonsdale was a late withdrawal. But such is the growing strength of our squad that we returned from Halifax with a bonus-point win. Despite playing up that slope we took the lead when Toddy bamboozled Brods with magical sleight of hand for 5 points. Brods edged ahead 7-5 at half time, but we weren't really troubled in the second half. Baggy kicked a penalty to regain the lead but after our opponents made it 12-8 we took control with tries from Sean, Baggy and a second from Toddy to win 12-27.

And then last week another away game, this time at Hullensians. The week previous, at Selby, they looked down and out at 27-7 down midway through the second half yet finished 27-31 victors. But fortunes were reversed. Although we took a very early 5 point lead courtesy of a Pete Homan try, we were 18-5 behind at half time before digging in, applying real graft and rallying to win 21-23. Two penalties from Baggy and a try from Brendan got us to within 2 points at 18-16, but they stretched out to 21 points before Kieran crossed and Baggy added the all-important extra points. Hullensians still had the chance to win with a last minute kickable penalty, but scuffed it. Three of our next four games are at home, after which with our final three league games looming we will be able to take stock of our season.

OTHER GAMES Our Wasps are going great guns, and are unbeaten in 2018; after drawing at North Ribblesdale in their first game in January they have won five consecutive matches. Since our last programme they've beaten Alnwick (A), league leaders Morpeth (H) and Tynedale (H). A précis of Jonno's reports on the first two matches appear in this issue (his complete reports are on our website); the Tynedale report will follow. There was one rugby celebrity at the Tynedale game – former international Dean Richards, now of Newcastle Falcons; it was rumoured he was talent-spotting and our boys certainly played some great rugby, with evergreen Marty Featherstone to the fore in the back row, but in reality he was watching his son play in the back row for Tynedale. We were 17-0 up at the break but Tynedale then looked as though they might overhaul us as they started to throw the ball around with some success. They did outscore us in the second period but we won 22-12.

The 'A' team have lost their last two matches, at Billingham and Redcar. However it should be pointed out that Redcar IIs had previously beaten Acklam IIIs 60-5, and our boys were beaten – and there's three different versions of the score – by between 5 and 10 points in a high-scoring match. The Colts lost 56-14 at Ripon, where they played on the artificial pitch at Queen Ethelburgas, without posts so each try was worth 7 points. It was 14-7 at half time but then the boys missed too many tackles in the 2nd half. They recovered well to beat Ilkley on Sunday. After a long journey an even first half ended 0-7 to Boro, but then the boys played some scintillating rugby to clinch an emphatic 0-48 win.

Half term can cause havoc with Junior fixtures, and so it happened for our U14s, with an away game at Thirsk. Both teams struggled for numbers and an 11-a-side game was arranged on a reduced size pitch, which allowed plenty of opportunity for players to find space. We won quite comfortably. This was followed by a trip to Malton & Norton. In a close first half the home team just edged it scoring one converted try without answer. Malton were the first to score in the second half, and after capitalising on a loose ball from a Boro scrum they scored another. At this point, with just five minutes remaining the lads rallied and tries from Sam Falkous and Josh McPartland, both converted by Ryan McNally, took them within 3 points. Unfortunately there was no time to restart and the final score was 17-14, with Boro definitely finishing the stronger. Dylan Condren was named man of the match.

CLUB NEWS When Andy Baggett returned to us as player/coach this season he came as the holder of two outstanding National League 1 (or it’s previous incarnation) playing and scoring records unlikely ever to be broken. First at Wharfedale and then Blaydon Andy accumulated 432 record-breaking appearances and 1707 points along the way. To mark this astonishing period in his rugby-playing career, and to signify how much he enjoyed his time at both clubs, Andy has donated the Andrew Baggett Cup to be presented to the victor in games between the two clubs. Three weeks ago Wharfedale beat Blaydon and so became the first ever-holders of the Cup. As Andy was pulling the strings in our win against O Rishwothians, the presentation was made at Crow Trees by his wife Sarah.

REMEMBER: MEMBERS' REUNION LUNCH NEXT SATURDAY BEFORE MOORTOWN MATCH

Thank you to everyone who donated money to the U11s and U10s sponsored “stationary bike rides” before, during and after our last 1st team home game; this includes the match sponsors, and our players, as well as players from Rish. The children and their parents had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and they certainly added some excitement in the foyer. Almost £350 was collected from the buckets on the day but the overall total of donations is £2,000 and rising. Their goal was to cover the the 269 miles from Acklam Park to Twickenham to support England in this year's Six Nations. Well done to everyone concerned in the venture.

REFEREE'S CORNER This afternoon I am pleased to welcome Jonathan Hill back to Acklam Park. Jonathan has been a regular visitor over the past few years having been on first team duty many times, lastly when we played Ryton two years ago. He is a referee of more than 20 years standing, previously playing in the front row at Old Otliensians and then at Malton & Norton. An agricultural consultant, Jonathan is well known among our country members, particularly the farming fraternity. I hope he enjoys his return visit with us today.