Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club finished their last league game before Christmas with a morale-boosting 43 – 34 victory over Yarm at Moore Lane.  With Luke Tinkler missing, Darryl Pettit returned to the side as stand-off, and Liam Kelly returned from a long absence in the second-row.
Aycliffe had the early possession, but some loose play saw them back in their own half and Yarm took the lead with a penalty goal.  Aycliffe attacked again and after the forwards had sucked in the defence, Luke Crossen sprinted down the wing to score.  Adam Gascoigne added the conversion.  Yarm soon fought back and scored a rather soft try to retake the lead.
Yet again it was Aycliffe on the attack and, after Jeff Hodgson’s run broke the gain-line, scrum-half Warren Parsonage found the defence open up in front of him and he added another try; Gascoigne again converted.  It was the turn of Gascoigne to score next as his speed proved too great for the defence, but Yarm scored from a driving maul to keep the game close.
The game in the forwards had become a battle between Yarm’s scrummage and maul prowess and the better work from Aycliffe at the ruck and around the fringes.  Gascoigne scored his second just before the break and Chris Richards added the extras to leave Aycliffe 26 – 15 ahead at the break and with the try-scoring bonus point.
Aycliffe struck quickly after the break and this time it was Richards with the score.  It was beginning to look as if Aycliffe were going to run away with it, but again Yarm had other ideas.  Another Yarm try was followed by a try from Craig Holmes running an excellent line through the defence.  Yet again Yarm struck back and scored their own bonus-point try to get within 8-points.
Now, it was Yarm on the attack and they were close to getting a losing bonus point, or even a win, but Gascoigne settled the Aycliffe nerves by running a kick back through the middle of the Yarm defence from 60 metres out, Gareth Parsonage converting.  Yarm were still not finished and added another converted try from a 20-metre maul, but there was not enough time for further scores and the match ended 43 – 34 to Aycliffe.

Aycliffe Rugby is sponsord by S CARS and WHITEHOUSE FUNERAL SERVICE.

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