Honours Even

A test for the squads' resolve after last week's heavy defeat at Durham.

A heavy pitch and windswept conditions restricted DMP's usual style of rugby - Middlesbrough had a game plan and stuck to it throughout.

DMP started brightly, and when the ball eventually broke to the wing, Will Lanagan was on hand to run in and score in the corner - Sam Anderson dragging his conversion attempt.

Middlesbrough immediately bounced back with a score on 12 minutes - their forwards putting together a good drive from the restart which paid dividends out on the left - the conversion was missed.

Boro piled on the pressure, eventually subduing the visiting defence with a converted try on 23 minutes - DMP looked shell shocked, but continued to play at Middlesbrough's terms.

Half Time Boro 12 - 10 DMP

Mowden rang the changes at half time, and to the frustration of the coaches continued to play on Middlesbrough's terms - the forwards slugging it out under an increasingly heavy pitch - not a day to be a back, little ball and when it did arrive "cold hands" accounted for many of the handling errors.

Despite being up against a bigger pack DMP exploited a well crafted 5 minute spell, collecting in tries from Theo Colley & Josh Armstrong, both of which were converted by Jack Hudson.

50 mins: Boro 12 - 19 DMP

The lead was however short lived as Middlesbrough bounced back with a converted try on 52 minutes - a collective groan heard from players & parents alike.

Going into the final quarter of the game either team could have secured the victory, if anything Middlesbrough were finishing the stronger - with the score at 19:19 the referee blew the whistle - DMP not at their best, but a hard fought result played in the best spirit by both teams.