Out with old, In with the Older ( And some new)

After Only 1, a succcessful be it, pre season Outing which saw a narrow 2 point win v Tech, this weekend saw 3 TM in their 1st league outing back in the social league with a team we have not played in recent years, Barnard Castle.

The morning of the game was laced with inevitable unavailability and it appeared we would be travelling with the Bare 15 for the hours Journey. That was until 11:30 and a phone call from one of the teams old stalwarts Mick Sudron wanting a game. A call which was quickly followed up By oh, and Marcus is coming too. At last I was getting a break. On arrival at the club was another unexpected arrival in Jamie Birkbeck meaning we were now going to have 3 replacements, something which was unheard of last your.

The club house was like an old school hall and it was a 5 minute walk to the pitches meaning, by the time we arrived there was little time to warm up.

Today also marked the 1st outing of the new shirts and Mark Armstrong wasn't wrong when he said he had ordered generous sizes for us with large being the smallest ant all replacement shirts being xxl. Oh well plenty of room for under skins in the winter ;)

On to the game and the 1st few minutes didn't bode well. From a team who won very few last year they were a well organised bunch and it was obvious they had a lot of new blood in the team. A lot of young lads, some of who were displaying Durham county tops and recently finished at Barnard Castle school getting some game time in before setting of for Uni etc....

The early pressure all come from the home team a and a penalty for the tackler not releasing in front of the posts gave them 3 points.

Straight from the kick off they took the ball out wide to the left where poor tackling saw the winger cut inside and score under the posts and with the extra 2 a 10 nil lead was a formality.

Another daft penalty in from of the posts then gave a 13 point lead and it looked to be a long day at the office.

Harsh words were said and this is where we finally started playing. Playing our game. with no recognized scrum half Mick Sudron stepped up to play there so it was obvious we were not going to have quick clean ball to the backs. We started to suck the opposition into the breakdown and kept the ball in the forwards where everything was orchestrated by Chris Surtees, with the Dynamic MoJo and the brute force of both Dale Thompson and Alex Blenkinsopp driving and Driving again.

It wasn't until the 30th minute however that the pressure told.

Castle were forced back over their own line to touch down and from the resulting 5 metre scrum we were dominant, a couple of Phases and it was down to Dale Thompson to touch down. The conversion was a good effort but pulled from the wide angle so 13 - 5

Although there was more 3TM pressure Castle held out till the half.

Into the 2nd period and now we had the advantage of the substantial slope and it told. Only a few minutes in and the pressure caused the Castle full back into a rash kick, taken cleanly on the 10 metre by evergreen fullback coggy he set off on a mazey run to the 22 where he was taken down, keeping his wits about him (yes there is a first for everything) He then popped off a great off load to Carl Robinson on a short supporting line who went straight through the covering tackles to score under the posts, with Marcus putting over the 2 it was now a 1 point game.

3rds pressure was telling and it was now the castle turn to be penalized for holding on in-front of the post with Chris Mallam stepping up for the 3 and 3TM 1st lead of the game.

The fact we had the lead both galvanized us an put down the opposition heads. Marcus was next on the score sheet with a strong run through the would be tacklers but without the conversion it was still a 1 score game but we were now in total control.

A serioes of drives down the right and MoJo thought he was over, only for it to be decided it was a double movement. Billingham won the resulting scrum and Mick Sudron slipped Phil Surtees in to go over for the score. and a 12 point lead.

Next was possibly the greatest try to grace 3TM history. ball carried forward and a bulldozing run by Alex Blenkinsopp saw him throw a wild and high pass out wide under the pressure of a 2 man tackle where Richard Morrison leapt like a Salmon to gather the ball. the break in his run for the catch meant he was now grabbed by 2 would be tacklers however the strength of the man (ably supported by Stephen Canham And Carl Robinson) drove the ball and the defenders over to finish off.

Just time for a final score and wide right where Mick Sudron Picked and went from the base of the ruck, breaking the Tackles and the gain line he off loaded to his son to touch down un opposed, with Mallam putting the kick over the final whistle went and 3TM top of the league.

Afterwards it just seemed this was a throw back to old 3rd team rugby, we kept playing even when up against it early and enjoyed the game. The result being an added bonus.

As i'm writing this have just had it confirmed 21 players for this weekends game, what a difference a season makes, lets get on a roll and long may it continue

3,3,3TM

Final Score
Barnard Castle 13 - 37 Billingham 3TM

Tries
M. Sudron x2
D. Thompson
C. Robinson
P. Surtees
R Morrison
Conv
M. Sudron
C. Mallam
Pen
C. Mallam

Disclaimer :- Any likeness to this report and what actually happened is purely coincidental and the author cannot be held responsible.