WELCOME HO HO Home to Acklam Park. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, that Father Christmas was kind to you and you enjoyed the New Year celebrations; we also send to you our very best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

And of course we extend a warm welcome to our visitors from Hullensians. Last season we were two leagues apart, but as we came crashing down they shot up from Yorkshire Two, winning 18 and drawing one of the 26 matches, scoring an impressive 772 points, earning a points difference of 389 and 19 bonus points, finishing with 93 points, one behind Yarnbury.

They kicked off this league campaign with defeats at Heath and Malton & Norton, before chalking up their first win, 28-10 at home against – US! Unfortunately for our visitors they have won only two other games, at home to O Brods and Scarborough, that last win being on 18 October, since when they've lost seven consecutive games, the the last two at home to Doncaster (19-29) and then Malton (12-22). As a result Hullensians currently lie second bottom in the table but with the same number of points as O Brods.

MATCH NEWS What a topsy turvy afternoon it was the last time we were gathered here on the touchline. The 1st XV finished the game against York with 13 men on the field, the Development Side contained a few pensioners, the 'A' XV lost their TV Cup tie against Hartlepool but thought they would advance to the next round and the Lions were beaten for only the second time since the first Saturday in September by Stockton IIs in the TV Cup.

York came with a big set of forwards but in the first half we had a slight edge in the set scrums, with the York line-out being very effective. On the 20 minute mark we turned a penalty-line out into five points, when the ball was moved through the backs to Jack, playing on the wing 'cos he had sore ribs; he slipped it to Matty T, starting at full back, to crash over in the corner. We added three points when Simmo stroked over a penalty just before half time. We were ahead but it was pretty close at 8-0. It got even closer just after the re-start when York used their forwards to good effect to drive over the line; 8-5 was way too close for comfort, playing uphill and into the wind. We were under the cosh for a while – and then I really feared the worst when Isa was red-carded for stamping (although it looked worse to the referee than it actually was), leaving us to play 20 minutes with 14 men. However this was the turning point of the half. We really dug deep and saw out the match very much in the ascendency, despite losing Matty J to a yellow card just before no-side. It was a scrappy game but a win is a win.

We took the opportunity of a blank weekend for the Colts to field a Development Side against West Hartlepool TDSOB. The team included youngsters Paul Gaynon, Jonno and Robbie Small but the fearless Colts led the way, winning 44-24 and a hat trick of tries from Joe Grant. Crafty Jonno had declared Halloween the theme, on the basis that no one would still have their outfits and therefore swell the fines tin. Meanwhile because of Hartlepool's shortcomings the 'A' team played uncontested scrums for the whole of their cup-tie. Such a situation in Tees Valley League matches results in the game being awarded to the other team; you would think the same rules would apply to TV Cup games. You would, wouldn't you? But Hartlepool is shown as winning the tie...The Lions fantastic winning sequence was brought to a shuddering end by Stockton IIs, victims of lumping all Tees Valley Merit and Social League teams into the same pot.
And then Doncaster Phoenix! We were hit by unavailability and injuries but were lucky to be able to call on the services of two past favourites, Wrighty and Richie Horton. Phoenix had a 100 per cent record but we got off to an ideal start, when from the forwards the ball was passed out to Conner and he danced inside his opposite wing to score in the corner. Donnie converted a penalty but we were playing the more exciting and expansive game and were rewarded when line out ball was moved out wide with Toddy coming into the line to pass out to Jack to score. We were looking to keep the game open, and got a further reward when another line-out was secured, and the ball was released to Wrighty. He fed Simmo, who made a little 'show and go' to leave the defence for dead and went through untouched to score. The conversion made it 17-3 and was fully deserved. Donnie did respond; a 5m scrum saw their No8 driven over to score after 33 minutes, but a penalty goal by Jack just before half time made the score 20-8.
Donnie opened the scoring in the second half on 3 minutes, when a catch and drive try and conversion. But after 10 minutes we stole the ball deep in our own half and swung it out to Conner who outpaced the defence before putting in a kick; the return was charged down and the ball fed to Rob who was tackled but the ball was picked up by Toddy who scored our 4th bonus point try. Donnie responded to leave the score balanced at 25-20 with 25 minutes left. We appeared to be holding out against the power of the Donnie pack, but on 39 minutes they scored close to the posts to make it 27-25; they led for the first time in the match. Heart-breaking but a helluva match with two bonus points some reward for a fantastic performance.
And then two weeks ago the 'A' team were changed and warming up for their North Yorkshire Trophy match against Richmondshire with the referee raring to go when we got the dreaded call – they couldn't raise a team. What a disappointment. But we still had rugby at Acklam Park, thanks, and hats off, to Ash Kearney who succeeded in the difficult task of bringing together his former team mates in the Colts from nine years previous, the team coached by Bernie and Ian Horton, to play against our Lions, which included dad Mick. It was good to see the team together again, including players like Paul Norris, Jamie Muncer and Jack Aldus, for a cracking contest. The former Colts won a truly competitive match by employing their secret weapon - a rolling maul involving all 15 players!
JUNIORS A word or three of praise and congratulations for our U14s, who beat Aireborough 22-7 in the semi finals of the Yorkshire Bowl at the beginning of the month (see Tom Seymour's report on p16, alongside James Cane's report on our U12s, who, incidentally, beat Sunderland 45-35 in Christmas week), followed by consecutive away wins at Mowden Park (14-44) and then Billingham 0-27 the weekend before Christmas, whilst that same weekend the Junior Colts beat Huddersfield 55-5, despite Huddersfield sending observers to our previous game at West Park Leeds - which we lost.

CLUB NEWS Another Tuesday night in December, another pie baking competition – and what a cracking success it was! This was the 6th Annual Competition and first of all let me say a huge 'Thank You' to the King of Pies, Jonesy the Jester for pulling everything together in aid of funds for our Mini Section and a jolly good night out, and also to his mates who between them paid an impressive £160 in an auction for a bottle of lager. A load of gear has already be bought for the little 'uns, with more to follow – a truly magnificent achievement! See p9 for the winners of this most important event. This was followed on Thursday with the visit of Santa Westy and our entertaining and popular Carol Sing-a-long. And then on Saturday 27th we played Stockton, away, for the Alan Todd Memorial Trophy and to round off a busy week our Annual Ball was held at the Thistle Hotel. Incidentally I have reported Shaun Cassidy's part in the North East Baa Baas side to play the 'Hire a Hero Gorilla Rugby Team' at Newcastle before the Falcons/Saracens match that same day. Unbelievably he had received a stern ticking off and warning from Mike Burton – the very same – on behalf of THE Barbarians about infringing copyright!

REFEREE'S CORNER As you know we like to welcome and then try to give a little background information about the man in charge. Unfortunately because of the problems caused by the holidays over the festive season I am not in a position so to do. I do hope that whoever draws the short straw has an enjoyable afternoon - we may get some information to drop into the centre spread along with the teams; fingers crossed!