Match report – Darlington u17’s versus Redcar u17’s

With numerous key players missing for Redcar would they pull through against a new opposition?

With the wind blowing across the pitch, Darlington started off the game with a high kick which was solidly received by Redcar. In the early phase of play a splash of winning lineouts showed Darlington that Redcar came to win. When Redcar lost possession, Sean Robson was there with a great tackle which secured back possession for Redcar. In the first few minutes of the game, a turnover ball nearly resulted in Michael Tucker scoring an early try.

A turnover ball and a defensive kick for Darlington, followed up by the speed of there winger secured the first points on the scoreboard.
From the kick-off the Darlington attack was quickly halted by Tucker again ripping the ball from the opposition and good scrumaging nearly gave Redcar the advantage to score their first try of the new season.
The first fifteen minutes of this match showed that Redcar could pull something out of this match.
With a succession of faults by Redcar, 3 penalties were awarded in quick succession which led the home team further and further down the pitch but all this possession resulted in a squandered chance to make Darlington the firm leaders in this game.
As an injured David Hockney came off, this gave way for a newcomer to start by the name of Shane. For the majority of the first half, Darlington had the bulk of the possession in the first half and the score became 24-0 to the home team.
Half Time: 24-0.

At the start of the second half Redcar seemed aggressive as ever to try and convert the score into a positive but some handling errors and missed tackles gave way for Darlington to score their fourth try to make the score 31-0. When Darlington had a break on the far side of the pitch, Redcar full back James Windross and also man of the match halted the progression of the Darlington forwards towards the Redcar try line. When the home side scored there 5th try, the Redcar heads seems to have gone down and in quick succession the Darlington side finished off Redcar by scoring another three tries, some converted to make the final score 62-0.

A valiant effort by the Redcar boys shows their determination and that they will not give up until the final whistle.

Mark Ellis and Iain McPherson.