The Hippos had a squad of 30 players to choose from, a bus load of Stockton players plus supporters and with no 1st or 2nd XV games scheduled for Saturday, it seemed the majority of our lads took advantage to enjoy a few rare beers on a Friday night, all of which resulted in a massive crowd eagerly anticipating the latest instalment of what is always a feisty local derby.

The Hippos were sporting a brand new strip, kindly sponsored by Dave Hyndman of Billingham Windows, Sean Scott of Scott Patterned Concrete and Jonny Durnion - 2 of whom were on the bench tonight. Your continued support is much appreciated !

The new AGP was looking fantastic under floodlights and with kick off pushed back 15 minutes to 7.15pm to allow the atmosphere to build (Stockton were late arriving really) everything was set for a fast start. Graham Kell started the game for Stockton kicking off to the Hippos forwards who were destined to secure the ball and set the backs away to score a length of the field stunner...............Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Paul Dalton the script and he watched the kick off come soaring towards him and suddenly left it to bounce into touch!!

As expected, the game lived up to all the hype and the physicality was at a level not usually seen on a Vets pitch. Big hits were flying in all over the field and Mark Coull, who had only qualified as a Veteran the previous day, showed his youthfulness by putting in hit after hit on the big Stockton forwards, supported well by his older back row colleagues, Dave Robinson and Mark Baxter.

It was the Hippos who managed to bother the scoreboard first, with Chris Hyndman breaking through a tackle and taking out their full back with a simple pass to Andy Evans who went under the sticks unopposed. Richie Morrison added the conversion. 7-0

Hyndman was loving being back in the middle and was starting to enjoy himself, seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages. He put in a lovely chip over the Stockton defensive line deep in his own 22, sprinted through and caught his own kick before setting Craig 'Tombstone' Tennant away and it looked like the trademark length of the field try was on, only to be pulled back by the referee, Revis Phillips who had harshly judged that the pass had been forward much to the dismay of the large crowd.

It was Hyndman again, this time with a huge hit in defence, who got the rowdy section of the home support on the balcony going again and the noise they were creating seemed to galvanise the players, especially Coull who was now rampaging ball in hand and causing havoc amongst the opposition. One such drive led to a Billingham penalty near the half way line which was kicked deep into the Stockton 22 to set up a lineout which was secured and after some forward pressure, scrum half Paul Burgum darted over for Billingham's second try of the evening. Conversion missed. 12-0

Charlie Wilson was replaced by Club Secretary, Chris Emery who was back on the field for his first run out in a 'few' years and he was soon in amongst it putting in a big tackle on a Stockton forward. Unfortunately, once back on his feet he appeared to be suffering from the shock of that first tackle in a while and promptly fell over backwards much to the crowds amusement and certainly living up to the Hippos name !!

Stockton were starting to see more and more of the ball and their forwards controlled it well, making life difficult for the Hippos and eventually that pressure told with them driving a maul over the line for an unconverted score - apologies I could not identify their scorer at the bottom of the mess. 12-5

Half time - Hippos 12 Occasionals 5

With the game so tight, Billingham only made three changes at half time (Sean Scott for Paul Dalton, Pete Stentiford for Richie Morrison and Steve Aylott for Michael Foster) leaving the rest of the replacements chomping at the bit on the bench.

The Hippos started strongly and put the Stockton line under pressure but their defence held firm, led by the ageing warhorse himself, Martin Howe but it was the Billingham centre partnership that once again broke the deadlock. Chris Hyndman this time putting in a lovely grubber kick for Andy Evans to scamper through and out 'run' the defenders to touch down. Pete Stentiford taking over the kicking duties duly added the extras. 19-5

A passage of sloppy play by the Hippos and a string of penalties conceded allowed Stockton a lot of possession in our half and the Hippos relied on some good defence to keep the opposition at bay. Mikey Stewart, who was now on the wing in place of Gav Lumley ran the ball out of our 22, straightening the line well and beating several defenders and it finally looked like the crowd might get to see that elusive length of the field score they so badly wanted, however it wasn't to be as once Mikey had offloaded well, the ball was subsequently dropped and possession lost.

Stockton had by now made changes of their own and it was great to see some old friends, Mick Conlon and Bryan Dixon in particular joining the party and it was no surprise to see them both straight into the thick of things.

Some more good work in the Billingham back line, again led by Hyndman set up the final score of the evening which saw Pete Stentiford go over for the Hippos 4th try which went unconverted. 24-5

The last 10 minutes saw the Hippos make a raft of changes allowing the remainder of the bench to take to the field and give some tiring legs a much needed break and it was one of these replacements, Stephen 'Coggy' Canham that provided the final entertainment for the evening. Despite being faced with several large Stockton forwards he attempted to run the ball from his own 22, only to be promptly stopped and actually picked up horizontally and carried off the pitch. Coggy took exception and in what can only be described as a 'hissy fit', he promptly threw the ball at one of the large Stockton forwards and proceeded to try and push him, much to the amusement of the crowd and guaranteed to make him the winner of 'Dick of the day'.

Full time - Billingham Hippos 24 Stockton Occasionals 5

#OSIOS