The Ref's dinner was at West and featured some exotic guests including visiting overseas referees - four from Catalonia in Spain and three from Potomac in the good old USA.

I had to sing for my supper as one of the speakers  with Eddie Bell, a former West player where he was known as "Boffer"  and who is now The Right Worshipful Mayor of Durham and leader of Durham County Council.

The main guest of the evening was Peter Baines, President of the RFU, who was kind enough to present me with a certificate of Honorary Life Membership to DCRFURS and an RFU plaque to mark my year as County President, which was dutifully passed on for display to West President Les Smith (pictured).

A most enjoyable evening was had by all.

Saturday saw me visiting Newton Aycliffe for their match against Seghill.

Aycliffe are another club that has worked hard to build playing numbers in recent seasons and are now turning out two teams on a regular basis. On Saturday their seconds played on the newly acquired second pitch at Shildon as their home ground has only one pitch.

The match referee was one of the Catalonian  visitors.

On the pitch the Seghill forwards dominated in set piece play but Aycliffe had the more dangerous set of backs. As the match wore on Aycliffe backs proved to be the deciding factor with several tries coming from slick handling. Final score Newton Aycliffe 39 – Seghill 13.

Our unfortunate visitor from Catalonia will definitely remember this game. After sixty five minutes into the match he got too close to a ruck and was caught by a flying boot and had to leave the field.

This left me and county secretary John Denham as the options to take the whistle and complete the match. Fortunately, and as you can see from the team photo, John had come along to watch the match wearing shorts and in training shoes so it was easier to nominate him.  He did take his sunglasses off though ... ...