Billingham under 14s made the trip to Horden for our first meeting of the season. With a few missing through injury and illness Billingham only had 14 players. After a warm up the game got underway with Billingham kicking off. The first kick was dropped giving Billingham good possession in Horden territory a couple of forward drives from Daniel and Riley made space out wide for Will to score the first try in the corner. Horden kicked off and took the game back to Billingham putting pressure on the back line and this pressure resulted in an interception try under the posts to put horden ahead. This gave Horden impetuous and some strong carries from the forwards gave them good field position but a kick over the top was intercepted the ball was fed wide and Jackson made great ground... The ball was recycled quickly for Charlie to receive the ball on the other wing and score. Horden again pressed forward and created a two on one situation out wide running the ball in, to even the scores. Billingham were stung by that and realised they were in a tough game. Horden kept coming forward and it took some good tackling to keep them at bay. A quick turnover from Harry gave Billingham back possession only for the ball to go forward after a good backs move. Horden attacked straight away looking for space in behind they kicked. Lewin cleared up and held the ball long enough for Billingham to recycle the ball. Quick thinking from Joe S picking and going from the base caught out the whole defence and saw him score under the posts. From the kick of good running by Daniel and Aleks made space for the ball to move wide. An excellent run by Jackson was picked out beautifully by Joe B. He was caught just short of the line but popped it up for the onrushing max to catch draw his man and offload and passed through the hands for Charlie to score unopposed for an excellent team try. Horden kept going and despite some strong rucking by Adey, Horden forced a lineout from which the horden 9 picked an excellent line taking out the whole Billingham pack but unluckily could not score cleanly. Horden kept up the pressure but Billingham scored with an excellent solo try from Charlie, kicking into space from his own 22 he chased it himself, kicked again before the ball popped up perfectly for him to score under the posts. Horden kept working but were being forced back now by Billingham's pressure and Joe S putting Will away for his second of the game.The next try was some quick thinking from Max taking a quick tap fending off the would be tackler and scoring under the posts. From the kick off some strong rucking from Loic maintained good Billingham possession Charlie making great ground before flicking a great pass out the back of his hand for Joe S to outstrip the defence and score his second of the game. The next try came from another turnover the ball was passed down the line and Oliver making excellent ground on the wing before Joe S dived over from close range from the resulting ruck to score his hat-trick. Horden came back again and strong running was only stopped by some excellent defence by billingham as the second half drew to a close Horden had a series of penalties on the Billingham line only for some great defence before Max turned the ball over in a tackle and kicked into touch to end the game.

The game finished with the final score Horden 14 Billingham 55 but did not reflect how hard horden worked. The hospitality was excellent and we look forward to seeing them again shortly in the cup. Man of the match awards go to Riley Ward and Jackson Bell

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