DMP U14 welcomed a strong looking York side to Darlington. The game was a very good one, with some very strong defending and tackling from both sides proving to be too much for both sides attacks for the first 30 minutes. For DMP, Dylan Sharp excelled in the centre with a number of strong tackles on a very powerful York no. 12. Further strong tackles came in from Joe Berry, Matthew White and Charlie Feary, whilst Rob Carney, Will Todd, Ryan Eastley and John McKenna made a number of strong runs which were repelled by the York defence.

Set pieces were equally even, with DMP dominating the scrum thanks to good work from the front row of Tom Dixon, Will Hickerson and Charlie Feary, but with York, with a decent height advantage, dominating the line-out. It was from a line-out that York eventually opened the scoring on 30 minutes, with loose ball from a DMP line-out on their own 5 metre line being pounced on by York.

DMP stuck to their game-plan of strong driving from their forwards and attempted to get the ball out along the back line quickly, but the strong York defence was holding. However, after a number of York penalties saw John McKenna, Joe Berry and Sol Kench drive deep into the York half, Ezra Laundry-Blair drove the final few metres to level the scores on 50 minutes. With Sam Berry adding the conversion (extra practise does pay off!) DMP led 7-5.

York responded quickly and were deep into the DMP half when gaining a penalty which they elected to kick. An excellent strike saw York take the lead with under 5 minutes left.

DMP were desperate to get a winning score and drove hard into the York half, almost camping in York's 22 for the rest of the game. After a number of failed attempts at driving over the line, DMP got a 5 metre scrum on the left which was deemed to be the last play of the game, Joe Berry broke from no. 8 and was pushed over the line by the whole pack, and some of the backs. With the whistle going to award the try the DMP players and supporters celebrated wildly, so much so that the ref had to remind DMP to take the conversion which Sam Berry made.

Final score: 14 - 8

Tries: Ezra Laundy-Blair, Joe Berry
Conversions: Sam Berry (2)

Man of the match: Dylan Sharp

Special mention to Ryan Eastley on his last game for the club - good luck and thanks Ryan!