Bishop Auckland Rugby Club

Bishop Auckland Colts power to away win

Bishop Auckland Under 18's Colts won convincingly away at Blyth in their league fixture on Sunday 36 points to 5. With the wind behind them in the first half, Bishop's took early control. With their forwards dominating in the loose, scrum half Stephen Middlemas was able to provide the back with quick ball. Bishops' opened the scoring when their forwards Chris Morrell and Kieran Hutchinson drove at the home teams' defence and set up a ruck, the ball was passed along the backs to winger Stephen Peka, who beat his opposite number and out sprinted the defence to score a try in the corner. Bishops' kept the pressure on their opponents and when Adam Laws and Tom Burn forced Blyth to fumble the ball, Bishops' Centre James Greathead pounced on the loose ball, running in to score under the posts. Middlemas was accurate with his conversion.

The visitors extended their lead when their captain and No 8 Simon Callan picked up at the base of a scrum and drove over for his try. Middlemas added the conversion.

Facing the strong wind and rain in the second half, Bishop Auckland again took control, using their forwards to drive the ball out of defence. Forwards Stefan Lawson, Daniel Larn, Andrew Riley and Elliott Jayne were keeping the pressure on the Blyth forwards, forcing them into conceding penalties. However, some ill discipline allowed the home side to regain the territory. Blyth scored their only try when their winger finished off a move to score in the corner.

This then spurred the visitors into action again, and after a strong run by Greathead who then set up a ruck in their opponents 22, scum half Middlemas broke down the blindside to score a well deserved try.

The try of the match came when from another Bishops' ruck, Laws, Burn and centre Lewis Thompson combined to get the ball to winger Tony Rutter. Rutter forced his way through his opposite winger and set off on a 70 metre run, eluding the fullback and out sprinting the Blyth defence to the try line.

Bishops' Full back Arron Briddick prevented a certain try when he bravely tackled Blyth winger in full stride. Bishops' rounded off an excellent performance when centre James Greathead broke through the home defence to score his second try of the game. Middlemas was also successful with the conversion.

© Mark MacNair 9th March 2008