With no first team fixture last weekend, Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club’s 2nd XV provided the entertainment for the town’s rugby fans when they entertained Consett 3rd XV.  Consett were two players short and so Ash Elliott and Mark Silvester volunteered to play for them and both put in excellent performances.
Aycliffe attacked from the beginning of the match, played in bitterly cold weather which made handling difficult.  Mark Wilson almost scored as he cut through the defence before being hauled down 5 metres short; the forwards recycled the ball and scrum-half, Warren Parsonage dived over for the score. Head coach, Peter Ryans was playing his first game of the season and he made a nuisance of himself at open-side flanker. A second try was scored by Andrew Parkin and converted by Phill Sangster. James Thacker was making an appearance at Number 8 and he broke clear from the back of a scrum near half way and sped in to score.  The conversion made the score 19 – 0 at half time.
The Consett players were powerful runners and it took good tackling from Aycliffe to keep their try line uncrossed.  Second team stalwart, Terry Parsons had his usual dominant game in the rucks.  Fast hands saw the ball go out to the wing where Peter Hewlett scored his first ever try.  Thacker and Parsonage both added their second scores as Aycliffe imposed their dominance.   Sangster added a try to his tally mid-way through the half.  For the final 10 minutes Aycliffe played some good possession rugby and, when Consett ran out of defenders, Thacker was able to break clear and Wilson, in support, added the final try of the game.  Sangster added his fifth conversion and the final score was 50 – 0 to the hosts.
This was a good all-round performance for Aycliffe 2nds who will again be the only team from the club playing next weekend away to Aklam Hustlers, ko 2:15pm
Aycliffe rugby are proudly sponsored by Emre’s Barber Shop and S Cars