Late kick snatches victory for Barnard Castle Rugby Club

Barnard Castle 21 Darlington 19

They may have left it late, but Barnard Castle returned to competitive rugby with a victory over Darlington.

Promoted as champions from Counties 2 North East, Barney went through last season without losing a league game.

But Counties 1 North East promises to be a whole new ball game and the club knew that they would be in for a tough time against Darlington.

So it was to prove as the game was keenly contested throughout a hard-fought 80 minutes until Castle managed to grab the win with almost the last kick of the game.

Barney began brightly with early pressure on the Darlington line and scrum half Reggie Langton tested the Darlington defence with a couple of sniping runs before he conjured up a deft chip and followed through to touch down for the opening score of the game.

With the difficult conversion from Ralph Makepeace striking a post the score remained at 5-0.

Within a couple of minutes Darlington were back on terms as they went over from close range for the try following a period of pressure on the Barney line but the conversion missed.

Barney hit back and further pressure yielded a penalty in front of the Darlington posts and Makepeace was able to comfortably slot the ball between the posts to edge them back into the lead, 8-5.

Once again, however, Darlington were quick to hit back and further pressure led to a converted try to give the visitors an 8-12 lead at half time.

Barney began the second half down to 14 players following a yellow card for a team offence and Darlington were able to exert real pressure in the opening exchanges, but the home defence held firm.

Briefly restored to their full complement of players, Castle then received another yellow card for a further series of team offences and this time Darlington were able to take advantage with a converted try to extend their lead to 8-19.

The game had become niggly and fractious by this point and a scuffle saw a Darlington player red-carded and a Barney player receive a yellow card.

Castle rang the changes and the bench made an immediate impact with Jack Worley claiming a decisive lineout take and gathering his forwards around him to drive towards the line at speed.

Jon Lucas emerged triumphant from the melee having claimed the try to narrow the gap to 13-19.

Barney were now in the ascendancy and went close to scoring on a couple of occasions before Oscar Jacques sped down the left-wing to dive in at the corner for the try.

With the difficult conversion missed, the score had narrowed to within a point at 18-19.

In the final couple of minutes further Castle pressure earned them a kickable penalty and Makepeace coolly stepped up to do the honours and send the ball through the posts to take a 21-19 lead.

There was still time for the restart and much to the consternation of home supporters Darlington won a penalty and opted for the kick to win the game but it sailed wide.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Barney travel to Durham University.

Barnard Castle: 1 Marty Lonsdale (Lifestyle Logistics), 2 Doug Shaw (RCA Coaching Academy), 3 James Peareth (Peareth Financial) 4 Sam Bell (Dickinson’s Agriculture), 5 Jon Lucas (Jan Thompson), 6 Henry Thompson (The Old Chapel, Staindrop), 7 Ben Parker (Potts Groundworks), 8 Eddie Anderson (JR & B Anderson & Son), 9 Reggie Langton (BK Robson Dry Stone Walling), 10 Ralph Makepeace (D Souter Farrier Services), 11 Tom Steen (Pulse Accountants), 12 Matthew Osbourne (Roman Ltd), 13 Elijah Delaidriti (S&RD Parker), 14 Harry Parker (Fox and Hounds, Cotherstone), 15 Oscar Jacques (Beauty Therapy Clinic), 16 Danny Souter (Ali & Arwel Hughes), 17 Jack Worley (The Worleys), 18 Fergus Makepeace.