Barnard Castle 2s hosted our friends from Northallerton 2s at home. On the grey but dry day Barney fielded a team of young lads that hadn’t played together much, with people playing in new roles for the first time. Northallerton opened the scoring with some hard running from their forwards to secure a try, 0 5.

Barney responded quickly with quick hands and Conner Stewart running a great line to score, Brierley notching the conversion 7-5. Unfortunately the ensuing kickoff wasn’t caught and Northallerton scooped it up and bundled over after some missed tackles to mate it 7-12.

Barney didn’t let their heads drop and after some good phases from the forwards the ball was sent along the line to captain Sam Clarke, who kicked through and caught the ball on the bounce and galloped over for a score. With the conversion by Brierley, Barney now led 14-12.

What a game the supporters were witnessing. Both teams were enjoying playing open rugby and it was great to watch. Northallerton closed the half with another score after Barney had been encamped in their 22 and then a great run out of defence led to a score and Northallerton led 14-17 at half-time.

The second half continued in the same way as the first, with both teams using the forward phases to release the ball out to the backs to attack, with both teams unfortunate not to score early.

Northallerton were then 1st to score in the second half after a lose pass by them was finally picked up and found and the player ghosted around the Barney broken defensive line to score, 14-22. Barney hit back and worked their way up the pitch with the backs linking up superbly and the forwards kept up to recycle the ball to allow Jack Franks to score a great team try, 19-22.

Barney could sense the chance of victory and kept going at Northallerton but again the visitors were able to capitalise from Barney's efforts to try to grab a winning try and won a quick turnover that led them to score what was to prove to be the final try of the day, 19-27.

Team Managers, Matty Barber and Adam Firmin were delighted with how the lads had played, despite the loss. 'The growth and enthusiasm showed by the lads was great to watch', Matty Barber said after the game ‘that is the best game the lads have played against a team who dominated us at the start of the season'.

Key contributors of the day were: Man of the Match Kai North, starting his first game at scrum half who showed great poise and potential, Captain Sam Clarke leading the lads by example with a great game, Archie Gent for doing all the dirty work in the forwards, Callum Fairbairn stepping in at 10 after years of not playing and leading a very attacking backline.

Team, Richard Welsby, Sam Fairbairn, Chris Benn, Louis Harrison, Archie Gent, Jack Franks, Nick Parry, Kai North, Callum Fairbairn, Ethan Sedgewick, Sam Clarke capt, Conner Stewart, Jacob Rose, Adam Brierley, Dan Jeffries, Luke Collings

Paul Davis