Bishop Auckland Rugby Club

Bishops Auckland Under 16's rugby start with a win

Sunday 27th April 2008

Bishop Auckland Rugby Club Under 16's won their first ever fixture 14 points to 10 at home against Sunderland on Sunday. Against a far more experienced side, Bishops' started the game much the stronger of the two sides. They dominated the early exchanges with their forwards making inroads into Sunderland's' defence. Powerful runs by forwards Scott Shield, Lewis Thompson and Michael Beech set up good positions for Bishop's half backs Jack Evea and Michael Walton to test their opponents. Bishops' dominance was rewarded when they scored the game's opening try. When Bishops' winger James Greathead was tackle just short of the try line, the home side recycled the ball and fed the ball to Fly half Walton who offloaded his pass to Beech who powered over the line for a try. Walton was successful with the conversion.

Sunderland then came back into the game with a number of attacks inside Bishops, half, but were denied any scores with some brave tackling from full back Andrew Cassidy and centres Johnny Younghushand and Stephen Jordan. Sunderland reduced Bishops' lead just before half time when they broke through the home sides defence to score a try. With the conversion missed, Bishop's held the lead 7 points to 5 at the break.

At the start of the second half, the visitors had their best spell of the game, securing possession and territory. Again defensively the home side were organised and strong tackling from forward Alex Callard, Greathead and Walton kept Bishops' in the game. Bishops' were securing good line out ball with hooker Johnnie Collinson and second row James Oliver combining well.

Sunderland took the lead when their scrum half ran down the blindside and passed to the winger to score a try in the corner, but the conversion was missed. The visitors would have extended their lead had it not been for an heroic try saving tackle from flanker Beech. With the Sunderland winger clear and running for a touchdown in the corner, somehow Beech managed to cover across and make the tackle with only inches to spare. This lifted his team and gradually Bishops manages to gain the upper hand again in the game. The home side made a number of strong runs into the visitors' defensive line through forwards Matthew Barnish and scrum half Tom Burn, setting up the ball for the backs. Fly half Walton was now finding gaps in the Sunderland defence and it was from an attacking position that allowed Walton to break through the Sunderland defence to score an excellent individual try. He was again successful with the conversion. Bishop's finished the stronger of the two sides and held out for an excellent and well deserved first win.

For action photographs and match reports visit the Bishop Auckland Rugby Club Website at bishopaucklandrugby.co.uk

© Mark MacNair 27th April 2008