We had a strong 15 and with Graham Scott and Mixie on the bench, we were in safe hands...as long as someone could mind Mixies dog should his services be required (they were).

Due to Durham University owning the first team pitch, we had to make the lengthy journey through the woods and play on the old uni pitch, which as it happens is a much better track anyway and reduced the impact of the elements due to some mahoosive trees. Thankfully our more hefty forwards survived the walk to the pitch and we started very strongly, spending the first 10 minutes in the opposition 22 only to make a couple of handling errors close to the line but some good running lines evident from the back line. Against the run of play, City broke up the pitch and drew first blood..7-0.

The game ebbed and flowed, with a few handling errors from both teams due to the weather but our forwards were defending very strongly and more than dominant in the set piece. Connor Mclurg the pick of the bunch, making a welcome return after a pre season injury and general laziness. Adam Simpson marshalled the line-out effectively and made inroads with the ball in hand on a regular basis. However it was City that struck again to score an unconverted try..12-0.

We stuck to task and it was only a matter of time before our play resulted in a try, Stu waites was organising things effectively all game and with good forward carrying by Matty Sanders and Craig Hadwen the ball was quickly shipped to Stu. With two running options either side of him, he was able to dip his shoulders (and not break them) to glide in under the sticks, converting his own try...12-7 HT.

We continued in the same vein in the second half, with excellent defence and excellent running lines in the backs, particularly from Liam Rutherford who had about 3 players hanging off him every run but made metre after metre. Kyle Jamo was also putting himself around in both attack and defence and a welcome return back to playing. With City tiring, we made our way up field after a turnover in our half and after some excellent interplay, old pepperami arms was put through a gap to race in from just inside their half to go under the posts for try number 2...again converted. 12-14.

A couple of injuries to Liam Smith (kick in the chops in a tackle), evergreen Martin Todd (gimpy knee) and a stinger for Adam Simpson, meant we had to hand the dog lead to Quinnys dad and Mixie came on to share the pitch with the excellent Jacob Parker ( who was hungover we later found out). A whole hearted performance as always from Mixie and was unpunished for a cracking tackle which was around a minute late. Despite the changes, we continued to play well and put it all on the line with Jack Angus putting a full 80 minute shift in for the first time since he was 15.

As play entered the final 5 minutes, we defended like demons as City battered our line but gave away a penalty under the posts which they duly converted...15-14. However today was a day that we wouldn't be denied and with a minute to go some strong defence by the backs resulted in a turnover just inside our half. We worked up the pitch with some strong carries and interplay and forced an infringement just inside the 22 to the right of the posts.

With Cam Mould rolling Stueys ankle 5 minutes prior by chicken legging him, there was only one man for the job of winning the game. Up steps Danny Quinn, nerves of steel/balls of copper. He was supremely confident of his ability to win the game with the final kick, the first time since the same heroics 4 seasons ago at Horden. He places his 9 inch kicking T down on the long, leaf laden grass, places the ball, takes his steps back, focuses on a pigeon in the tree behind the centre of the posts...he runs up, strikes the ball clean and true as it sails through the posts to claim the victory from the jaws of defeat... 17-15,celebrations ensue.

A great team performance, great commitment and application by the full squad and worked hard all game and were deserved winners. Well done fellas. Special mention to Glynn whom played very well in only his second full game of rugby.

MoTM: clurgy and stu (too tight to call)
Ref: 8/10
Food: giant Yorkshire pudding, sausage, mash and gravy. 8/10 but and excellent sausage