WELCOME It gives me great pleasure to welcome Consett to Acklam Park for what must be their first visit, at least at 1st team level. I'm pretty sure we first met our visitors in November 1999 when we were drawn at Consett in the National Intermediate Cup. It was a heck of a match which we eventually won 3-14, when our scorers were the 'Terrible Trio' of Hodder, Brandt and Noonan. Incredibly at that time Consett were five leagues below us, yet here we are today, 16 years later, occupying two of the top three spots in the same league.
Our game this November was an even closer affair, which we won 15-17. Played on a snow-covered pitch Consett were 9-3 up at the break and then 12-3 and 15-6 ahead, with their full back kicking all their points and Sam responding. Two more penalties from Sam put us within touch of a win, achieved when Liam took a pass from Rhys to crash over with minutes to spare. All credit to Consett; that solitary try is the only time this season we have crossed the line only once, and they did win the snow ball fight at half time.
That result was only the second defeat in Consett's first 11 league games. They kicked-off their season by beating Horden in the Durham Senior Cup (DMP seem to be their next opponents) and then Ponteland at the start of the league campaign before losing at home to Novos. They then embarked on a winning sequence, the highlight of which was undoubtedly the 8-15 win at Durham City, still City's only defeat. The other three reversals were at Novos, again, and Stockton, and at home to City. Oddly, as we are at home for three of our remaining four league fixtures, five of Consett's six most recent games have been at home, the exception being a trip to Darlington. They come today fresh from a 38-23 win over Horden, who are one place but 16 points behind them...we travel to Horden next week for our last away match of the season.
By the way I'm aware of some uncertainty on the touchline about next season, so here's a quick summary. Ignoring any restructuring of leagues (as proposed by the RFU but seemingly on the back burner for the moment) the winner of our league will be promoted into North 1 East, as will the winner of Yorkshire 1. The runners-up in DN1 and Y1 will play-off for the third available promotion place, the match to be played at the club with the best playing record. As things stand Durham City would be promoted along with Bradford & Bingley from Y1, and we would be at home to Malton & Norton to decide the third spot. I repeat, as things stand...
YORKSHIRE SHIELD Last Saturday – Easter Saturday – we eventually welcomed Keighley for a match that was originally scheduled way back in the mists of time. We also welcomed Craig Chapman back from Saudi for a few days and thrust immediately into our front row...and thereby hangs a tale. Two props cried-off on Saturday morning so an urgent message was sent out to recall Josh from work. Josh hadn't arrived before kick-off and we began the game with Chappie and Scott Taylor propping but no front row cover on the bench. And you've guessed it, Sod's Law! Chappie was yellow-carded before Josh arrived – scrums went uncontested – we forfeited the match and the chance of a quarter final tie at Yarnbury. The County site lists the result as 'away walkover, insufficient props' but believe me it was no walkover. The match continued for the full 80 minutes and included a lot of good rugby before ending all-square at 31 points each. We started with four Colts on the field, with two of them contributing 21 of our points. Lewis Allan topped a fine début in the second row with two tries and Joe Gaudie, taking brother Sam's place at fly-half (Sam being on County duty) kicked three penalties and a conversion. James Pennington continued his fine form at No8 and the industrious Jay Ellis completed a lively Colts half-back combo.
Playing into a very strong wind we nevertheless took the lead when Conner finished off a fluent handling move. Keighley then added 14 points before Joe slotted over two penalties, which took us to 11-14; however the second penalty, quickly given when Jack was flattened following up a neat little chip ahead, would have been a seven point score if the referee had allowed the advantage, as Euan scored between the posts. With the help of Lewis the half-time score was 16-24, which quickly became 23-24 courtesy of another sweeping move finished by Liam but our opponents only score of the half made the score 23-31. We notched another penalty from Joe and after tremendous pressure on Keighley's line a second try from Lewis was the final score.
OTHER MATCHES Let me start with the County, and add our continuing congratulations to Sam Gaudie on his massive contribution to Yorkshire U20s progress in the National Championships. They reached the semi-finals by beating North Midlands on Sunday, extending a 10-0 half time lead to 29-3 before a late surge by North Midlands made the final score 29-17. They have the advantage of a home semi-final on 10 April, against Hertfordshire. The other semi-finalists are Gloucestershire and Northumberland, who Yorkshire have already beaten in the pool stages. Yorkshire won the Championship last season and have dominated this event in recent times, winning it seven times in the last 13 years. Number eight could be on the cards...

As promised in our last programme there are reports in this edition on the two good wins by the Wasps against Sedgefield and then Consett in the semi final of the CANDY Cup. It is now known that our opponents in the final are Novos, who we will meet at the end of the month. Meanwhile the 'A' team managed a charity game at 'Doggie' last week – that's the Durham Doggie, ie West Cornforth, not our own Doggie, North Ormesby. After a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon they emerged as 3-12 winners. On the subject of representative honours, I am pleased to report that our former Colt James Mott has just played at No7 for the Bulgarian U18s team who beat Slovakia 7-3. Many congratulations to him too.

It is hard to imagine our U14s and U15s having a better March. Tony's 14s played Acklam away and then Richmondshire and Billingham at home, scoring a total of 150 points against a miserly 17, whilst Tom's 15s scored 122 against 22 in games against Acklam at home and Wensleydale and Stockton away. Congratulations to them, and to Brad's U11s, who acted as mascots to the Wasps team who played Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday. Brad actually got a game out of the event; along with Conner he played in the curtain-raiser to the big match. There's more in formation on this on p4.
CLUB NEWS Our next home game is in two weeks against high-flying Durham City and is also our Members Reunion. There's going to be dozens and dozens of familiar faces present; if you have not already booked your place please do so quickly with Martin Wain on 07462 067766, or see Bernie, Colin, Gordon, Tilly, Don or Keith. Tonight the cricket club have organised Skinny Legs to appear in the Function Room; tickets are only £3. And steaming up on the horizon is our Annual Dinner and Presentation Night at the Sporting Lodge on Friday 13 May, followed by our Junior Dinner the next Friday. Another reminder - our Beer Festival this year it will run from Friday evening to Saturday night, 22/23 July, and will include a selection of ciders as well as live music. Make a note to get here early – we sold out last year!
SPONSORS We are again delighted to welcome the two 'Rollicking Richards' Readman and Storry, today’s sponsors. Readman Steel are steel stockholders, wharfingers, suppliers and fabricators of tubular items, and the sole UK agents for the Evren Chain of Turkey; Lithgow Sons & Partners, Stokesley, specialise in auctions of industrial and commercial goods and properties, as well as providing asset valuation and disposal, commercial property valuations, residential property and storage services. Whatismore they are both great supporters of the Club and we are pleased to welcome them and their guests; we are grateful for your continued support.

REFEREE'S CORNER And finally we offer a warm welcome to pharmacist Philip Gordge, returning to Acklam Park for his second visit of the year; he was in charge of our match against Ponteland in January, having been here the previous January when we played Heath. In his playing days Phil was a No8 who played at London University and Bromley. He now lives between Bridlington and Scarborough, became a referee ten years ago, and is a member of the East Yorkshire Society. Make him feel welcome.