3TM too hot to handle in the freezing temperatures

A late fixture left the 3TM wondering whether they would have enough players to compete however by game day we were left with enough replacements although through some injury and unavailability still looked to be short in the backs, especially when it came to replacements.
The kick off from the home team and some indecision from 3TM lead to the ball not being gathered cleanly and although it was taken in eventually the territorial advantage was with Northallerton. Great defence and determined driving from the forwards relieved the pressure, however the opening phases of the game were very even with ferocious tackling coming from both sets of players and with early handling errors everything seemed a little disjointed.
Shortly before the 10 minute mark a Northallerton scrum in the centre of the field was turned over and quick ball left found it moving through hands wide left to phil Donaldson playing on the wing, when faced with the last defender unselfishly passed back inside to the on rushing Ben Elgie who ran the ball in under the posts for the first score, with the conversion to come half the home team were milling about behind the kicker however the ref still allowed the charge from the home team, Ben stopped to question the ref about this who then decided (wrongly) they were within their rights to do so and called the conversion incompleted 5-0.
The next 20 minutes of the game again was an even contest, Norhallerton threatened th Billingham line after a number of dubious penalties however the defence was resolute. At the other end Chris Surtees thought he had crossed but was harshly adjudged to of made a double movement and the score was ruled out.
The Billingham pack was starting to prove the dominant force in the game, driving the home team back at will and winning every scrum, even against the head and with Nick Gray ruling the skies in the line it was only a matter of time until the possession was turned into points.
This came from Donaldson finding space and running in on the left with a missed conversion for 10-0.
The home team had now become slightly disheartened and further quickfire tries came from Sudron with a superb individual effort through the middle of the home team to touch down under the posts for a converted score, 17-0 and Watson, again bursting through the middle but then running into the corner for 22-0.
The next try was a peach from one of the 3TM old timers. Camped in the Northallerton 22 their scrum half attempted to clear however this just went high and lateral, finding its way to Coggy on the right wing who gathered the high ball under pressure from the opposing winger and after stepping inside 2 further defenders touched down to add to the total, 27-0 and with this half time.
The second half saw the home team bolstering their ranks with a number of 1st team players whose game had previously been cancelled, this had no effect on the visitors who were still totally dominant in the breakdown and at the scrum, the latter of which we had still not lost a single one, including against the head. This was creating more and more space with further tries for Watson Elgie and Sudron.
With the free flowing scores Northallerton had to do something to to stem the flow and so they persuaded 3TM to bring on the intrepid reporter on the wing. Morrison replacing Canham got in the way of one pass which would of set Donaldson free, dropped a simple pass from Sudron and then gave an interception pass within the opposition 5 metres but hey-Ho, at least it wasn't a cup semi and no harm was done to the score board.
Into the the final 20 and Jonny Young took the ball from the back of the ruck and again tracked midfield, instead of doing the usual prop routine and trying to batter through defenders he threw an outrageous dummy which was bought hook, Line and sinker causing a massive hole which he went through to score without further challenge.
D of the day moment came next, Elgie was wide on the right, kicked through, chased his own kick and tapped through again with the ball nestleing nicely in the in goal area, however, instead of chasing the ball for the score he decided to amble afte it, being beaten to the downward pressure by the somewhat, oversized home winger.
More tries came in the closing minutes but with the number scored there is some dispute about who got how many.
Final score Northallerton 0 , Billingham 3TM 61 or 71
Captains comment, This is what rugby is about, come down, play hard, win well and enjoy the craic.
Home team comment, So how many first team did you have playing?!?!?!?!
Scorers, Tries -Elgie 4, Watson 3, Sudron 2, Canham, Donaldson, Young
Conversions - Elgie 3