Saturday August the 20th saw Aycliffe RUFC kick off the 16/17 season with a friendly game at Chester Le Street. This was a squad game with over 25 players having a run out and many more unavailable due to holidays and work commitments. The format was for the game to be played over 4 quarters of 20 minutes but this didn`t quite go to plan in such a torrential downpour. It is believed the referees watch became waterlogged and the nearest estimates make a nearer 2 hours duration. But this is what is needed for pre-season, hard work and running the summers over indulgences off was to be the order of the day in the slippy conditions. Chester were determined not to let Aycliffes larger squad run them around and they stuck to the task admirably. With some of Aycs interpretations of the laws under scrutiny it was ClS who opened the scoring with two well taken penalties in the first two quarters. Aycliffe started to get their act together and cutting through not only the home defence but the now driving rain Lewis Stevens and new Captain Alex Lineton went over for unanswered tries. before Craig Holmes scored one of his trade mark tries
carrying ClS defenders over the line with him. This was converted by Alex. Its often unsettling playing squad games with a multitude of substitutions and players being trialled in new positions but everyone dug deep. The teams efforts in pre-season to put the work asked of them by the coaching staff paid off and with 6 or 7 brand new players fitting in well we can all look forward to a more prosperous campaign this coming year. Final score Aycliffe 17, Chester 6. Thanks has to go to Chester le Street who made the visit more than pleasant with a BBQ and bull ride, even if it was pretty quickly filled with rain. Aycliffes seasons kicks off proper this coming Saturday 27th August with a cup game away trip to South Shields who disappointedly pipped Aycliffe to promotion this year followed by another away trip to Jarrow in the league on September 3rd. Both games are 3pm kickoffs. NARUFC are actively looking for new sponsors for the club to add to our already established list and all help and support for the club is always greatly appreciated from the Aycliffe rugby family. Details can be found on the NARUFC website.