As a pre-cursor to the annual club Christmas Party, Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club faced neighbours Darlington Mowden Park 3rd XV with a Development side at Moore Lane.  Aycliffe began strongly in both the backs and forwards and soon took the lead through a try from guest player Ollie Lines, David Judge, playing his first game since the beginning of the season, added the conversion.  Mowden were not behind for long though and soon struck back, taking advantage of some poor defence to score a converted try of their own.  Luke Crossen outpaced the visitors down the touchline to score another try but, again, Mowden responded in kind.  Mowden were the more organised of the two teams and they scored two more tries, one converted, to reach the break with a 24 – 12 lead.
After Peter Ryans’ team talk, Aycliffe attacked again and Number 8 Andrew Littlefair was just able to reach out to the line for a try which was converted by Judge.  Mowden scored two further times to develop an unassailable lead, but Aycliffe still kept looking for a score and it was they who were the final scorers of the afternoon when Jeff Hodgson powered through the visitors to leave the full time score 24 – 36.
Despite the defeat, it was a fairly good, if low-key, run out to finish off the Rugby for 2014.  The Christmas Party followed and, this year, Santa was accompanied by two elves to dish out the presents, before the adult members of the club got down to some more serious partying afterwards.  The spare presents were handed out to Darlington Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Ward.
The first match of 2015 will be a league game at home to Chester-le-Street on Saturday 10th January; kick-off 2.15 pm.
Aycliffe Rugby is sponsored by S Cars and Whitehouse Funeral Service