WELCOME On this our last home game before the festivities and our last match of 2016, let me wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Today is very much our Christmas Special, two matches against Northern, our old friends over many years but whom we've not met on the field of play for three seasons...and let me add always a well run proper rugby club...plus a visit from Newton Aycliffe, all preceded by another fantastic Christmas lunch, brilliantly prepared by Linda and Ian, to whom we owe a huge 'thank you' for presenting such splendid festive fayre. And then a little later we have our renowned Lizard Run, when dozens of Santa Claus's will head into town to spread good cheer and bonhomie. There's more! Today we have a special guest, Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, accompanying Andy Murray, one of our hard-working back-room boys rarely in the spotlight but incessantly beavering away on our behalf. Welcome to you all, I hope you have a thoroughly enjoyable time with us.

But back to matters on the pitch. After 14 games our visitors are lying second in the league, two points behind Westoe; in fact they have never been lower than third, holding top spot six times. They have won 10 and drawn one of their games, losing only to Barnard Castle (13-31) and Westoe (28-38) at home, and 26-22 at Rovers. They do, however, have by far the best points difference in the league, 325, not surprisingly as they posted 101 points against Medicals and 100 against Ryton, plus a couple of 50s, against Horden and...us!

In welcoming Newton Aycliffe I remember the tragedy they suffered in September when one of their members, Terry Parsons, died whist playing for them at Houghton-le-Spring. He was a father of five. It was a massive shock, a horrendously sad day, the effects of which must still be felt today. Our best wishes go to Terry's family and friends, as well as to his team mates.

LEAGUE RUGBY Our match against Medicals was an odd affair. But hats of to our visitors, they played a very fluid game; they ran, they passed and they probed for the whole game, never deviating from their attacking tactics. We struggled to get our hands on the ball for the opening 15 minutes and didn't touch it at all for the first 15 minutes of the second half. The possession statistics for the game heavily favoured our opponents...yet we scored five tries against two. With Peter Homan leading the way with some crunching tackles our defence was superb. We did slip behind to a Medicals penalty inside 10 minutes but quickly replied when Sean Moloney crossed the line and Ben converted. We lost Ash to the sin bin on the half hour and feared the worst in such a high tempo game. No need. During his enforced rest first our flying machine Ross sped through to score and then Toby popped up a sweet little pass for brother Euan to go over; 17-3 at half time. After the break Medicals added five points but then Josh was driven over and Conner added the conversion to stretch our advantage and earn the bonus point. Our visitors scored a second try and we wondered if this would spark a grandstand finish, but in the event we wrapped up the match when Toby flew through the air to make it a double for the Tremlett boys – a fitting finale for Toby as he jetted off to take up his chalet maid duties in the Alps. We'll certainly miss his athleticism, his drive and his all-round power-play; he takes with him our best wishes, but we do hope to see him back soon!

The match was followed by two away games, both of which we lost. The least said about the match at Westoe the better – we were never really at the races. We did improve last week at Horden. With a rearranged team – eg fullback/winger Jack Bircham was selected as cover for the back row but went on at No 10 – we showed bags of spirit, with tries by Ben Wood and Sean Moloney, plus a Matthew Todd penalty and conversion, putting us only two points behind at 17-15 shortly after half-time. However Horden pulled away to win 29-15.

OTHER MATCHES Despite concerns over player availability the Wasps put in an epic performance against a strong DMP second team last week. Captain Si Moore was superb in attack and defence allowing the Wasps to keep the pressure on with the little ball they had. Mowden went 22-0 up at one stage and were good value for it. But the Wasps stood firm, and with the squad bolstered by some A team players due their game being off, the rolling substitutes were used to full effect. The players did everything they could to help the cause, Gary Rock was forced to play at number 9 and Jonny Blackburn ended up at lock at one point. The defence was outstanding and then Jamie Kane dotted down for a try that secured another two league points for scoring a try and taking the score to within 20 points of a team from "The Big 3". (We did score a second try but by the time the referee sorted things out it was 'held up'.) Well done all concerned with a special thank you to Danny Robson for agreeing to prop, without whom we would have struggled to field a front row and to Robbie Small for adding his positive enthusiastic weight to the day in general.

Two weeks ago the Colts faced a very strong York team in the Yorkshire Cup and as York had beaten Boro 19-3 the week before in the league Boro knew they had their work cut out.
Things didn't start well with York scoring a try within 3 minutes! But Boro weren't about to allow York a second win in two weeks, as the pack once again began to show their worth, which in turn allowed the back line to function with a steady stream of quality possession. Tries from centre Jared Poole, flanker Ben Ramsden, prop Kieran Clark and wing George Dawson, with two well taken conversions from fullback Brendan Hill saw Boro ease into a 24-5 lead. York scored again just before half time to leave the score at 24-10. The work in the first half had took its toll on the Boro lads, and they didn't manage to trouble the scoreboard in the second half, but York found another gear, and some weak tackling allowed them two more tries and a conversion, but Boro managed to hold on for a 24-22 victory.

There was a marked similarity last week when they travelled to O Brods in the National Cup, but this time the opposition managed to claw back the score for a last minute victory. In a tough contest Boro took the game to their hosts in the opening exchanges. Although they camped in the Brods 22 they fell behind the first time Brods got into Boro's half to take an unlikely 5-0 lead. Boro came back strongly and scored to take a 7-5 lead at half time. Boro changed tactics after the break and looked to the their bigger forwards to utilise short drives from the base of the rucks; as a result they dominated possession and scored two tries without the home team getting a touch. Well ahead at 5-21 and in control the outcome looked positive. But it was not to be. Two converted tries made the score 19-21 with the clock ticking down, and then a last minute try and an immediate penalty took Brods to 29-21 and through to the next round.

CLUB NEWS I'm pleased that Stu Richardson is with us today; no doubt he will be getting in some drinking practice, as he celebrates his...drum roll please...65th birthday on Monday! Many congratulations Stu; I have to say you carry your age extremely well. If you are approached to sign his birthday card please do so with care, as you'll add your name to an illustrious autograph from one of Stu's playing colleagues...

SPONSORS Today we are delighted to welcome Ashley Deakin of Carlsberg as our sponsor, with thanks for his continued support. Carlsberg was founded 169 years ago by Jacob Jacobsen, being named after his son Carl and bjerg, the Danish word for hill, on which the brewery was built. Over the years Carlsberg has continued to provide first class drinks, with its Export lager always being our top seller. Such is its outstanding popularity that whenever there has been any mention of changing it we have been threatened with civil war!

REFEREE'S CORNER I am pleased to welcome Kevin Weston to Acklam Park this afternoon. He is a solicitor who played in the 2nd row at Selby, since when he has been a referee for six years and organiser of North Yorkshire referees. Four weeks ago at Scarborough he was carried off the field half way through the match. I hope he enjoys better fortune during his visit to us this afternoon.
NB 2 January our U16s/17s play Canadian club Beaconsfield (Quebec) KO 2.15