Rugby
Barnard Castle 2nds …….. 45
Stockton 3rds ………………. 22
Barnard Castle 2nd XV hosted Stockton 3s on Saturday. The visitors unfortunately came depleted due to late pullouts but Barney had a rare week of good availability so lent them some players.
The game kicked off and after a bit of backwards and forwards Barney started to show that they wanted to run the ball at any chance. Barney were the first on the score card as Sam Clarke burst through the gap between two defenders to sprint over for a try, Capt James Barber was good with the conversion 7-0.
Stockton retaliated and won the kickoff back and marched down the pitch to score in the corner, kick missed, 7-5.
Castle bounced back and, through Tom Clarke who smashed his way over from short distance to score, kick missed 12-5.
Stockton continued to make it a tight game and got their next score through one of the loaned players, Ethan Sedgewick who started his first game and showed his electrifying pace and step to score a great try, 12-10.
To close the first half, Sam Watson cut a fine line from outside to score a lovely try. Barber made good with the conversion to take the score to 19-10.
The second half started with Watson scoring an almost carbon copy of his first try, which again Barber converted to take it to 26-10.
Stockton went rolling over and replied through a great draw and give by on-loanJohnny Bartlett who released the winger to score 26 17.
Stockton scored again through their forwards to make it a really close game 26-22. Sam Clarke got his second try of the game after some of the backs moved the ball down the line allowing him to score in the corner, kick missed, 31 17.
Not to be out done Adam Brierley scored two well taken quick tries in the last few minutes of the game, with both conversions by Barber. Final score 45-22
A big “well done” to the lads for keeping going on a warmer than expected day. There were lots of positives and the few negatives are fixable with training. Also, a big thank you to the four lads who played for Stockton: Archie Gent, Johnny Bartlett, Ethan Sedgewick and Matthew Brunskill.
Team: S Fairbairn, J Blakeman, J Pratt, C Benn, N Parry, J Franks J Barber S Clarke, J Tallentire, T Clarke, S Watson L Collings A Brierley, D Last, A Gent, M Brunskill, J Bartlett, E Sedgewick.
Paul Davis
