Barnard Castle run riot with 14-try demolition

Barnard Castle 92 Houghton 5

Barnard Castle are finding life in Counties 1 North East to their liking after hammering Houghton 92-5 to climb to fifth in the table.

In a hugely impressive performance, the home side brushed aside their opponents, scoring 14 tries in an outstanding display of attacking rugby.

Both teams are acclimatising to life in a higher division after winning promotion last season.

While Barney are adjusting nicely to life at the higher level, Houghton are struggling at the foot of the table and arrived at the Demesnes looking for their first points of the campaign.

Castle were in no mood to give their opponents any leeway and hit the ground running with impressive No8 Lewis Thwaites powering over for the opening try inside the first minute with what was to be the first of a superb hat-trick in a man-of-the-match performance from the newcomer.

Next on the scoresheet was another impressive new addition, Finn Usher, as he caught his own chip through and raced over from distance for the try.

Ralph Makepeace, who had his kicking boots on throughout the afternoon and was generally on target with his conversion attempts, extended the lead to 14-0.

Another recent recruit, Radovu, was next to claim a try as he powered through Houghton tackles from distance.

He looked set to wreak havoc all afternoon, but unfortunately, he had tweaked his hamstring in the act of scoring and had to leave the field to be replaced by fellow Fijian, Aisake “Wisse” Matebalavu, who was another who would go on to score a hat-trick.

Thwaites powered over for his second try of the day and then a flowing move saw Oscar Jacques go over in the top corner.

An interception saw Elijah Delaidriti claim his try, before Wisse bagged his first try of the day with a blistering run from halfway.

A Doug Shaw try from the edge of the Houghton 22 looked to have rounded off the first half scoring, but in their first foray into the Castle half Houghton claimed a try to leave the score at 54-5 at the end of a relentless first half.

The second half opened in familiar fashion with Lewis claiming his hat-trick of tries with another powerful carry and Wisse following up on a chip and chase for his second try.

Substitute Lewis Wigham was able to claim his try from a lineout catch and drive and then Ralph went over from close range to extend the lead to 82-5.

A great break by skipper for the day, Joe Gibbons, saw the ball off-loaded to Wisse who claimed his hat-trick and finally Matthew Osborne, who had another terrific game at scrum half, rounded off the scoring with a well-deserved try to leave the final score at 92-5.

Barney’s credentials will be tested tomorrow when they travel to top of the table Tynedale Seconds (Saturday, 2pm).

Barnard Castle: 1 Danny Souter (Hughes Family), 2 Doug Shaw (Wendy & Camille) 3 James Peareth (Peareth Financial), 4 Henry Thompson (The Old Chapel), 5 Jack Worley (Bambi & Jayne), 6 Joe Gibbons (S Patterson & M Coates), 7 Ben Parker (Potts Groundworks), 8 Lewis Thwaites, 9 Matthew Osborne (Roman Ltd), 10 Ralph Makepeace (D Souter Farrier Services), 11 Oscar Jacques (The Beauty Clinic), 12 Elijah Delaidriti (S & RD Parker), 13 Radovu, 14 Harry Parker (Fox and Hounds, Cotherstone), 15 Finn Usher, 16 Eddie Anderson (JR & B Anderson & Son), 17 Lewis Wigham (Adrian & Mel), 18 Aisake Matebalavu.