Rugby
Durham/Northumberland 1
Barnard Castle…… 0
Medicals…………… 22
CASTLE welcomed Medicals to the Demesnes with a few team changes.
Medicals have only lost four of their 13 fixtures to date and were, as usual, a rapid and skilful young side.
Castle gave squad debuts to young second team winger Matthew Brown, prop Rob Hardy and lock forward James Peareth who all did well in their first games.
Alistair Burn also moved up from the seconds once again and Dean Bainbridge stepped in from the touchline to cover injuries and absentees and they too did themselves credit.
In a howling gale, fluent rugby was difficult for both sides.
Castle had the benefit of the wind in the first half but kicking down the pitch was tricky and too often the ball went dead allowing territory to be lost rather than gained.
The game was fairly even with neither side gaining dominance through the first half although once more Barney fell foul of the referee with Greg Upton being binned for slapping down the ball just before the half time break.
This was a pity as Greg was having an immense game leading a superb Castle defensive effort.
Credit too for Alistair Burn who filled in as outside centre admirably.
Although scoreless going into the second half it was always going to be a big ask for Barney to keep a clean sheet when the sides re-emerged and this was not helped when a further two yellow cards were doled out in the first 15 minutes of the half.
Castle knocked on from the kick-off and Medicals were able to score from the resultant scrum.
Then, with the numerical player advantage, Medicals once more scored from out wide to ease away 0-12 before an overthrow saw Castle’s line once more breached.
Medicals used the wind more effectively and although Castle defended stoutly at the end of the game, a Medicals backs move paid off and they scored once more to win by a 0-22 margin.
Castle will feel they deserved more from the game and played well at times but they are currently being punished at the breakdown and need to avoid these yellow cards if they are to gain some wins this season.
Dave Bottoms
