It was great to see two games of rugby being  played on the Catcote Road pitches with a strong Stags squad beating Novos III's 33-7 in a hastily arranged friendly.

Both visiting teams encountered travel problems with the A19 closed between Sunderland the Testo's roundabout - worth noting as we head up that way for next week's game in South Shields.

The day was also notable for the husband and wife team who officiated - Peter Ashman taking the Firsts and Helen the Stags.

The DN1 encounter always  promised to be close, and so it proved for much of the game with both sides playing at pace, but making frequent mistakes.

We had all the territory in the first quarter of an hou. However, a combination of strong defence, poor decision making and over elaborate passing meant we had nothing to show for it. 

As so often happens, Northern finally came up the other end of the pitch and broke the deadlock through a bit of good fortune.

Jake Linighan won his line-out ball ten metres out, unfortunately his palm back bounced badly and prop Sam Wilson was first to the touchdown with fly half Chris Parker adding the extras.

We set about trying to make amends without really threatening the line until full back Sam Heron popped up to score his first league try for the club. For what seemed the umpteenth time quick ball was moved through the backs, but this time there was an end result as the full back opted to dummy his pass to winger Ollie Mossop forcing his way over through two tackles.

With Zac Southern protecting a troublesome thigh, Farmer Sam was the designated kicker for the day and his effort from wide on the left was just wide. He was also close with a 30 metre penalty shot so we turned round 5-7 down.

It stayed that way for what  seemed like an awfully long time, some 20 minutes in fact, but we did finally take the lead through Adam Brown.

He went over from close range after Ryan Painter and Jake Linighan used their strength to force some desperate  defence. Leading at last 12-7.

Browny then spent some time on the touchline getting a finger dislocation sorted. While he was off Northern regained their advantage - Sam Wilson went on  a charge from 40 metres out and when he was finally brought down speedy winger John Tuck was able to collect and go in under the posts.

Was it to be one of those days? Fortunately not as Adam Coates popped up to produce one of those cameos much loved by the supporters, and particularly by Coatesy himself. A line-out out on the visiting 22 turned into a maul and, after being ejected from the proceedings, he returned to the back where he spotted that nobody was at home on the blindside. Adam wrestled the ball from a reluctant Scott Butcher (Coatesy's  words not mine) and sped up the touchline with some glee to produce a showboat dive in the corner. Heron's conversion was excellent to give us a five point lead.

Things got even better with a superb solo effort from Man of the Match Butcher just three minutes later. He broke from the base of a maul,  racing clear into the 22 with Ryan Painter on his his inside shoulder. The defenders were there, but he totally threw them with an extravagant dummy to give us that important try bonus pioint - the conversion giving us some breathing space at last. Bonus points may well provide vital as clubs battle for those top four promotion places at the end of the season.  We allowed Norhern one right on the whistle with some missed tackles allowing the visitors to get the ball out wide for replacement Patrick Douglas to go in - Parker slotting an excellent conversion.

Another tough game in prospect next week at South Shields Westoe.

 West: Sam Heron, Owen Westhorp, Will Hilditch, Zac Southern, Ollie Mossop, Ollie Connolly, Ryan Painter, Adam Coates, Adam Hutchinson, Adam Brown, Jake Linighan, Tom Robertson, Alex Barker, Isaac Robinson, Scott Butcher.

Changes (all used): Michael Hogan, Lewis Scott Chris Atkins.

Tries: Heron, Brown, Coates, Butcher.

Cons : Heron (3)

Yellow: Chris Atkins

Northern: Ben Bishop, John Tuck, Will Atkin, Nathan Whitworth, Callum Davis, Chris Parker, Ali Gray, Sam Wilson, Ben Smallwood, David Lyall, Chris Darley, Tom White, Ben Dalton, Joe Mockford, Robert Lenderyou.

Changes ( all used):Patrick Douglas, Liam Mullick, Gareth Little

Tries: Wilson, Tuck, Douglas.

Cons: Parker (3)

Yellow: Douglas.

refere: Peter Ashman (Durham Society).

Yellow: Chris Atkins