RUGBY
Barnard Castle ……………..29
Ashington …………………….31
Recent fixtures between these two sides have been keenly contested close-run affairs and this was to prove no exception.
In atrocious blustery and wet conditions, high-flying Ashington quickly established their superiority in the scrums and moved the ball fluently to enable them to race into an early lead, with a breakaway try by their speedy winger. This was quickly followed up by their hooker who barged over from close range for a second score to take the visitors to 0-14.
Things were looking bleak for Barney as Ashington were playing with real confidence, but Castle were quick to bounce back with a well taken try of their own in the top corner, by winger Sam Clarke. With the difficult conversion superbly taken by Ralph Makepeace the gap had narrowed to 7-14.
Ashington were still playing with confidence and poor tackling by Barney allowed the Ashington scrum-half to go over for the try to widen the gap once more to 7-21.
Castle were quick to hit back again though when, after a period of sustained pressure, hooker Dan Watson was able to cross for the try. A drop kick by Makepeace secured the extra 2 points and the score stood at 14-21. Ashington had infringed several times in the run-up to the try and as a result their second-row was to spend the next ten minutes in the sin-bin.
Half-time was fast approaching, but there was still time for Barney to close the gap again with a Makepeace penalty, 17-21 as the half ended.
Ashington began the second half in the same vein as they had the first and quickly extended their lead with a well-taken try by their right-winger. They grew the lead further with a penalty and Barney looked out for the count, trailing 17-31.
James Peareth was having a superb game, however, along with the rest of the Barney back-row and after another impressive carry from him the ball found it’s way to winger Jack Tobbell who touched down in the bottom right-hand corner. Once again Ralph landed the difficult conversion to narrow things at 24-31.
Castle had steadied the scrums and were carrying well in the loose. By now the visitors were showing real signs of fatigue and Barney had the upper hand as the game drew to a close.
Hesitation and a mistake on their try-line saw Ashington gift the ball to Tobbell who was able to secure his second try of the day and with it the fourth try bonus point.
With the difficult conversion narrowly missed, the score stood at 29-31.
Barney were now looking the more likely to take the game, but Ashington were able to hold on in the last few minutes and gleefully kicked the ball into touch when the referee signalled that time was up.
This was an excellent gutsy performance by Castle to come back so well against a very strong Ashington side and to run them so close in the end, to secure two bonus points.
Peareth was rightly named man of the match for his barnstorming display, but the entire team deserve praise for the character that they showed to battle the elements and their impressive visitors.
The club would like to thank match sponsor BIT Builders and the match ball sponsor Archers Ice Cream.
Next week Barney make the short trip to Darlington Mowden Park Elizabethans where they will take the field at the Arena in a noon kick off as a curtain-raiser for the DMP home game against Sale RFC.
Nick Raper
