Durham/Northumberland 2
Barnard Castle.............. 24
Hartlepool Rovers.......... 7
BARNEY knew that they would be in for a tough test when they welcomed visitors Hartlepool Rovers to the Demesnes.
Rovers are at the higher end of the league table and had only tasted defeat once this season against table toppers Durham University.
For once Castle had good availability with very few absentees and were able to field a strong side with some strength in depth from the bench to come on and make an impact as the game progressed.
Both sides began brightly, but it was Rovers who struck first with an excellent opportunist try by their lively scrum half and with the conversion they had the early lead, 0-7.
Barney responded well and were soon on the scoreboard when an excellent break by fly-half Ralph Makepeace saw Castle camped on the Rovers line and after several attempts to score were rebuffed, James Peareth was able to drive over for the try. With the conversion missed the score stood at 5-7.
Castle were now on top and with a dominant scrum were securing excellent possession and they were soon in the lead, as another great drive by Peareth saw Elijah Dlaidriti storming towards the line before offloading to Robbie Lavin who touched down in the corner.
With the tricky conversion missed Castle now led 10-7 and carried the lead into the half time break.
Barney had the uphill slope to contend with as they came out for the second half, but they began brilliantly as a knock-on by Rovers from the kick-off saw a Castle scrum on the 22 from which scrum half Dan Richardson moved the ball wide to Elijah who cantered in for the try. An excellent conversion by Ralph saw the Barney lead extend to 17-7.
Barney looked to score their fourth try to secure a bonus-point victory and the addition of Danny Souter, Bill Nuwala and Luke Cowley from the bench enabled them to threaten to further extend their lead, but the Rovers defence held firm.
In the closing minutes Rovers mounted a series of attacks that Barney were able to repel, but a late penalty seemed to have given the visitors the opportunity of an easy three points and a losing bonus point, but they spurned the opportunity and Castle were able to defend the resulting drive and clear their lines.
As the clock ran down and Hartlepool continued to press, Luke Cowley grabbed the ball inside his own 22 and shrugged off a tackle before sprinting most of the length of the field for a final, lung-bursting try to secure the bonus point with the last play of the game.
With Ralph slotting the conversion the final whistle sounded on a tremendous Barney victory, 24-7.
This was Barney’s best performance of the season against a very good Hartlepool Rovers and the players can be rightly proud of a cohesive, disciplined and focused display that gave them an impressive victory. Ralph Makepeace was nominated by the opposition as man of the match.
The club would like to thank match sponsors Harpers, Filpak Ltd and Richard Clarke and the ball sponsor Keith Barber.
Next week sees Castle make the short trip to Sedgefield. They then have a week off before their next home game against Houghton on Saturday, November 30, 2pm kick-off.
Nick Raper
