Rugby
Barnard Castle……24
Consett………………21
IF ever there was a crunch game this was it. Castle, second in the league entertained highly fancied third placed Consett who were keen to grab the bragging rights over their Pennine neighbours – all to be played out on a beautiful afternoon for running rugby with sparkling sunshine, a nagging crossfield breeze and a fairly firm pitch lined with ample spectators.
Barney were soon into their stride and had the bulk of the territorial possession early on with left wing Miles Brookes and lock Chris Wearmouth both having good breaks to test the visiting defence.
Consett were starved of possession, but when they tried to run out of their own half they were scythed down in the centres and out wide; George Welsby, Greg Upton, Andrew Bell and later Joe Larder in particular holding the fort.
It wasn’t until 15 minutes of steady Castle pressure that they managed to score.
A deft chip through by flyhalf Greg Upton was gathered by Welsby who, despite a number of tacklers, drove hard towards the posts.
When the ball came back, scrumhalf Harvey Barkes fed Wearmouth who in turn offloaded out of the tackle to Adam Kicks up well in support. He ran the last few metres to crash over. With Upton adding the extras Castle led 7-0 and Consett had not really got into the game.
All that was to quickly change as Barney lost their way in the second quarter. Dropped ball and a series of penalties conceded allowed Consett to gain territory at last.
From a Castle scrum on their own 22 metre line, there was a mix up at the base and a penalty ensued. The Consett flyhalf had little difficulty in popping over a penalty to close the gap.
Minutes later, from a Rob Stanwix run out of defence, Consett were awarded a much more difficult penalty for “holding on” and a superb kick by the flyhalf allowed Consett to close to 7-6.
When they did get back into the Consett half, Castle found despite their scrum just about having the edge the usually reliable lineout was misfiring, making it difficult to turn pressure into points closer to the visitor’s line.
With Consett not getting any change from the Castle midfield, the flyhalf cannily opted for a kicking game and used the breeze well to peg Barney back in their own half.
Trying to clear his lines, Greg Upton’s kick was charged down and from that Consett were able to mount a series of forward surges for the line and eventually rumbled over between the posts.
With the conversion added suddenly Castle were down 7-13 as the half time whistle blew.
In the second half, Barney knew they could turn the game on its head provided they could cut out the errors and regain the earlier forward dominance.
However, the early minutes did not go to plan as Castle were penalised for crossing in midfield. From the resulting lineout drive, Barney conceded another penalty and Rob Stanwix was carded for an illegal entry in at the side.
The penalty was duly converted and Castle were now on the wrong end of a 7-16 score with only 14 men.
Castle survived the next ten minutes without conceding further and then gradually the side got back on top.
Good runs up both wings by Ali Johnston and Lucas Summers, led to a series of forward surges in the Consett 22 metre area with Chris Strong and Stanwix always in the mix.
Coach Junior’s inside running lines also were sucking in defenders and ultimately after about 15 phases of play, he provided a scoring pass to George Welsby who went over in the left hand corner.
Suddenly it was all Castle and further good surging runs by the forwards and by George Welsby meant that Barney had a scrum on the Consett five metre line. After an initial couple of metres made, Stanwix picked from the base and passed out of the tackle to scrumhalf Harvey Barkes who went over in the corner to give the Castle the lead again at last, 17-16.
A team is always vulnerable after they scored and Barney were soon to prove the maxim as Brookes and Welsby missed tackles out wide on the right and the Consett winger scored in the corner to ease ahead again 17-21.
Undeterred, Castle’s forwards were soon on the front foot again and after a lineout drive, they drove right up the pitch and then via a series of phases spread play right across the whole width of the pitch, culminating in a more forward drives in the left hand corner.
Despite Consett’s desperate defending they yielded penalty after penalty and once the referee had decided that advantage was no longer coming, Castle opted for a five metre scrum.
The Consett front row were unable to take the pressure and stood up as they were forced back. Then their flanker dived into the side of the retreating scrum to prevent the score. The referee had no option but to award a penalty try to Castle which made the score 24-21.
The ever-alert Consett flyhalf rushed forward and took a quick restart kick that gave them field position for the last minute of the game and it was only a superb try saving tap tackle from Ali Johnston that prevented the left winger making it all the way to the line.
As the Consett player fell inches short it was man-of-the-match hooker Chris Strong who was first there to try to rip the ball and Consett were penalised for holding on.
That was the last action of an exhilarating match between two well matched sides which was compelling to watch. Well done to both sides for such an entertaining game. The result sees Castle move to within four points of leaders Durham who Consett play at home next week.
Castle meanwhile – weather permitting – travel to mid-table Guisbourough who are always a difficult side at home.
Dave Bottoms
