WELCOME Now we're back in league action I am pleased to offer a warm welcome back to Acklam Park to our visitors from Pontefract. We first met in the County Cup in 1989 and then in the National Intermediate Cup in 1996 before meeting in the league in 2014 and again in 2015. We won these four games, but when we last met in 2018/19 during our last excursion into Y1 I must admit we didn't fare too well. Our first meeting that season, here at Middlesbrough, was a pulsating ding-dong of a match, a tense affair which swung one way then the other. Our visitors shaded the first half and we were on top for much of the second half; it was an 8-all draw at half time with no further scores during a ferocious second period until the final minutes when first we and then our visitors crossed to make it 15-15 at the final whistle. The return fixture was a little more clear cut – Pontefract won 46-26, going on to finish third in the table, whereas we ended up in eighth place. The next season (the last season we all played!) our respective results took on a different stance. We just missed promotion from DN1, finishing second, whilst our visitors just avoided relegation, ending third-bottom.

However don't let that lull you into any sense of complacency. As we speak Pontefract are one solitary point behind us, lying in third place, having lost their opening fixture at Selby but going on to beat Goole, Dinnington, Leos and then on Saturday triumphing 10-27 at Bridlington in a match rearranged from the previous week, abandoned because of injury. Bridlington took an early 7 point lead but were 10-12 down at the break, after which our visitors added 15 unanswered points.

BORO RUGBY Although it seems longer it is only three weeks since we stood here to welcome Bridlington to the fray. They turned up bristling with muscular intent but three blistering tries, first from Rhys, then a length of the pitch move finished by a galloping Ali Lang which reminded me of Andy Ripley at his best, and then Harry gave us a 17-6 half time lead, with our visitors rarely in our half. However once the second period was underway we quickly found ourselves 17-18 behind before Harry – what about that huge pass from Pete!) - and Rhys scorched over and Andrew added a penalty to give us a 16 point lead. The final score was 34-25.

We then travelled on a wet and miserable day to Bradford Salem. We took a 3 point lead but at the break the score was again 17-6 (see above) but this time to our opponents. We weren't enjoying our best game but our pack was bossing the scrums and all 17 second half points were to our advantage, with a penalty try, a try by Sloany and a penalty and conversion from Andrew. Oddly, at the start of each half yellow cards reduced us to 14 men and yet on both occasions we added points without conceding any.

Next week we away at West Leeds. They were in Middlesbrough last week, beating Acklam 19-31 in a second round Yorkshire Silver Trophy match.

CUP RUGBY And then last week, in a break from the league, we went to Ripon for our first Yorkshire Silver Trophy match. We ran in 7 tries, all converted by Andrew, to win 13-49. We were 3 points down from the KO but Aedon, Chris Mc and Josh all crossed the line to give us a 13-21 lead at half time. Further tries from Brendan (2), Ali and Josh sealed the result and gives us an away tie at Wensleydale on 6 November. The victors will play either Thornensians or Bradford Salem, away, of course. No matter what progress we make in the competition, every tie will be away from home.
To round off a successful afternoon of cup rugby, our 'A' team popped up the road to Acklam to take on the Talbots and in a thoroughly entertaining match a hat trick of tries from Ash Kearney and one from self-proclaimed Man-of-the-Match Matty Reagan (!) meant they returned with a 17-28 victory under their belts.

The previous weekend our U14s began the winning sequence of cup victories by beating Aireborough in the Yorkshire Cup by 6 tries to 4 and will now play – Pontefract! - would you believe, on 7 November. Our boys were leading 6 to 1 but were penalised with two consecutive yellow cards late in the game. Unfortunately Gabriel Cassidy, having just survived a scare about a suspected broken elbow, now has a broken collar bone! (They entertained Blaydon on Sunday and won 8 tries to 2.) Meanwhile our U15s were also on cup duty on Sunday, entertaining Wharfedale, but lost by 0-44. Hard luck guys, better luck next time.

CLUB NEWS Many congratulations to our former Junior Adam Radwan on making his 50th appearance for Newcastle Falcons on Saturday (and on his England appearances of course). It was great to see him and our other former Juniors Ben Stevenson, Lewis Boyce and Zach Kiribige in Premiership action last week. Even more good news is that another former Junior, James Mott, has been selected in the Bulgaria national squad for their match against Serbia this weekend.

Many of you will now know that we are steaming towards our 150th anniversary next season. I mention it again for two reasons. One, Jonno played a major role in the reformation of the Teesside Barbarians as a vets team made up of seven or eight oldies from each club in the area, who will play for their own club when they are in opposition to the baa baas. Friday night matches have already taken place early season at Redcar, to celebrate their Centenary season, and then last week at Stockton. We will host the last match in the cycle, next October, as part of our Anniversary celebrations. And two, Another of the many people involved in planning a range of suitable activities is Andy Murray, who is diligently preparing an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant towards the cost of a brochure and exhibition chronicling our development over the decades as well as proposals to carry us into the future. Andy is doing this because, as the Chairman of Guisborough Town Hall CIC, he has intimate knowledge of the process and was instrumental in securing funds totalling £1.6m to renovate the old town hall. This revamped heritage project will include a gin distillery, two floors of upmarket tourist accommodation and an information and heritage centre. Andy will host a Guisborough Heritage Day next Saturday, revealing the first stage of this ambitious project - congratulations to him for his efforts, and good luck in replicating his success on our behalf!

MAKE A NOTE We intend to see out October with a BANG! In two weeks, on Saturday 30th, we will hold a a fancy dress Halloween and Karaoke Night, complete with prizes and curry, of course, and then the following Friday it's our ever popular Fantastic Fireworks and Bonfire Festival! Note the dates NOW!

REFEREE'S CORNER This afternoon I am pleased to welcome Jonathan Keeton to Acklam Park and delighted that he is accompanied by his family. I hope they enjoy a thoroughly pleasant afternoon with us. Jonathan has been a referee for 12 years but this is the first time he has been whistler-in-chief. He has, however, been here as a player, 30 years ago as scrum half for Doncaster. He is an IT technician – perhaps he can sort out our wifi before he leaves!