Newton Aycliffe 17 Yarm 12
Aycliffe Rugby Club conjured up a second successive win with a weakened team at home to Yarm. It was again a makeshift pack that took the field on a cold, wet afternoon, with Drew Gibson retaining his Aycliffe’s strong back line. This was where the first score came from as Gareth Parsonage used his pace to cut through the defence and score a try which Luke Tinkler converted. A penalty kick from Tinkler extended the lead to 10. 0, before Yarm struck back.
A missed tackle in defence saw a converted try reduce the deficit to 3 points. Yarm’s forwards were now beginning to impose themselves on the game in the scrums and lineouts and eventually the pressure told as they added a second try. At half time, the score was 12. 10 to the visitors.
The second half saw Aycliffe’s beleaguered forces take a battering as the Yarm forwards continued to attack. Good tackling throughout the team saw them hold the onslaught at bay. The Aycliffe scrum was going backwards most of the time, but from a scrum on their own 5-metre line, a quick strike saw the ball quickly passed to the backs by Mikey Dunn.
James Thacker, with some room to work carried the ball past the halfway line before he fed it to Luke Crossen, who was too quick for the defenders and his try saw Aycliffe’s lead restored, Tinkler added the conversion. Yarm’s attacks became more fierce, but again the defence held firm. The game ended with Aycliffe winning 17 ¨C 12.
Again a superbly passionate display saw Aycliffe to victory and shows what could have been done earlier in the season. On 16th March, Aycliffe continue their league programme at home to Chester-le-Street. Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club is sponsored by Workshop Supplies and Lift Right Forklift Training. Visit the website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/newtonaycliffe.
