SANDAL RFC 20 v DMPRFC 23

Sandal RFC will probably think themselves unlucky to be on the losing end of their home encounter against Darlington Mowden Park RFC, however the visitors know the value of being in the game for the whole of the eighty minutes and that the official’s final whistle is the sole arbiter of the result.

Mowden have been consistent on their travels so far this season and took the field in confident mood, in the mind set that whatever the opposition could conjure, then an answer would be provided in response.

This took a jolt in the first quarter, which Sandal totally dominated, rattling up eleven unanswered points before the visitors had barely shaken off the effects of the journey. Two penalties and a try made up the points and Mowden could have no complaints with that score line, with the home kicker initially looking solid.

Scrum time, a comfortable area for the visiting pack on any other match day seemed not to be functioning correctly on this occasion, forcing Tom WILKINSON to pick up on the back foot, however the lineout seemed to be business as usual, with Michael FORDE to the fore, ably assisted by James KNOX.

Scrum half Todd HARRISON assumed the kicking duties for Mowden and from the very first opportunity he slotted home from a reasonable distance on thirty minutes, he appeared to exude a confident aura.

A second penalty followed soon after, again struck sweetly by Todd HARRISON, but not to be outdone, the home fly half responded in kind after Mowden had displeased the official straying offside.

There was still time for Todd HARRISON to be successful with his hat –trick before oranges, which halted proceedings with the score at 14 – 9 to the home side.

Sandal had enjoyed the distinct advantage of the slope in the first half and were probably disappointed at this stage not to be further ahead.

After oranges, initially Sandal again started the better, until the Sandal defence opened up, with Matt LISTER jinking his way to the line, ably assisted by his back line colleagues, levelling the scores at 14 - 14. Todd HARRISON slotted the afters to sneak the visitors in front.

Sandal responded via a penalty from the home fly half, who had shown earlier signs of consistency, but who now showed traces of inaccuracy, missing several kickable penalties prior to this success. This edged Sandal back in front, in what was now shaping up to be a very close encounter.

Ollie PETERS marked his return to the Mowden fold with an appearance from the bench and was immediately called in to action, linking with Robin EATOUGH, to put the latter in for a score.

The resulting conversion from Todd HARRISON put a little distance between the sides in favour of the visitors at 17 – 23.

Not to be outdone, Sandal’s fly half kicked another penalty to close the gap, but his other efforts as Mowden transgressed towards the end of the game were all to no avail, as the game was over and four more league points were added to the total of Darlington Mowden Park RFC.