WELCOME We are delighted to welcome Beverley back to Acklam Park. We last met a couple of seasons ago in N3N, when we lost both games played at the end of the season, 11-27 at home and 33-16 in the return. We were relegated that season, as were Beverley last season, but it was
mighty close run affair last year. Morley and Altrincham Kersal were well adrift at the bottom but our visitors finished with 52 points against Penrith’s 53, Waterloo’s 54 and Burnage’s 55.

They seem pretty determined to make an immediate return, being one of only two sides with a 100 per cent record after four matches. They opened their account by scoring 45 points at O Crossleyans before thrashing Morpeth 77-3; they then won at Pocklington 14-11 before beating Malton & Norton at home last week by 26-14, when they had to work hard. By their own admission for half the match they were all over the place, particularly up front where they looked distinctly pedestrian against a pack playing with far greater urgency. Nor did they look too comfortable on their own put-ins and their discipline was not too good either. However the second half was a different matter. They kept the ball better and started producing some scintillating rugby. Even so, with ten minutes left Malton had got back to within a converted try of taking the lead. Only a try in the last minute finally settled it and gave them the appearance of a comfortable victory.

TEAM NEWS Looking at the previous fixtures between us history suggested it was almost certain that our home match against Malton & Norton a fortnight ago would be an exciting and unpredictably topsy-turvy affair. Twenty minutes into the game one set of supporters were visibly relaxing, content at the sight of their team seemingly scoring at will. The rest of us were increasingly fearful of conceding a hatful of tries and were glumly facing the prospect of a third consecutive defeat. But fear not! I quote from the Malton & Norton match programme: “Last season, at home, we trailed 3-13 early in the game but roused ourselves to score five tries to make the final score 33-13.” Incredibly, this season we trailed 3-15 early in the game but yet again roused ourselves to score five tries to make the final score 36-25. Malton were 18-20 ahead at the break and then 18-25 up immediately after the re-start, but after that the only points were posted by us in a second half display of ferocious and dogged determination. The cream of our tries was Bellers’ second after an incisive mid-field break by Jack. The others were by Peter Whitaker, Richie Lonsdale and Tom Symon.

We then travelled to newly-promoted Keighley, where we were level at 10-10 at half-time but then paid for conceding too many penalties and lost 19-17. Three were kicked before we scored a late try, Josh finishing a good move and Jack converting from wide out. A penalty by Jack had initially given us the lead and he also converted when Paul Norris charged over from 25 metres just before half-time. Craig Chapman returned from injury for the last 20 minutes.

On Saturday the Wasps travelled with the 1st XV to Keighley and scored an overwhelming victory and the Lions notched 59 points against Stockton. But you’ve gotta luv Mowden Park. Following our victory by 24-7 in a third team match at Mowden two weeks ago we accepted another third team fixture against them, again at Darlington, last week. (Essentially it was a way of getting a fixture for a fifth team, who took over the ‘A’ team’s scheduled game at Hartlepool.) It was not the same Mowden team. Oh no. This time they included players from the Falcon’s Academy plus fringe first teamers. Although our intrepid and brave warriors held them to 12-10 at half time, Mowden went on to win 50-10. Ah, bless; it made them happy.

The Colts followed their fine win against Dinnington with two more home games but unfortunately lost both, against Rotherham and Huddersfield – read the match reports by Terry Fitzpatrick.

JUNIORS In all the Junior Section has won 15 of 20 games. Congratulations to all junior sides for winning their games in week 3. The U16s defeated local rivals Darlington 12-10, the U14s beat Darlington by 30 points, the U13s had a comprehensive win against Billingham and the U15s defeated both Sunderland and Hartlepool Rovers. The teams combined scored over 240 points and conceded less than 30.

In week 4 the win of the day was the U16s defeat of a physical Scarborough side in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup (see report). According to Head coach Mark ‘Wincie’ Willis the U16s are sandwiched between the 'Galacticos' that were John Burridge's three time Yorkshire Cup winners and the Tilson/McNeil (et al) 55 player strong 'Mafiosos' who are the current U15s. They are a 'team' in every sense of the word, they gel together and support each other fantastically well - usually playing sensational passing rugby. Mark Willis has a training philosophy based on whatever you do, it has to include a ball, and the way these kids are all comfortable passers off both hands is testimony to the long term success of his methods. Well done fellas! Huddersfield away in the next round with a place in the quarter final at stake.

Other good wins were achieved by the U13s against Billingham and the U15s who defeated Durham and Wetherby on parallel pitches. The U15 forwards grafted really hard to allow the backs the time and space to show their devastating pace and power. (See more information on p16, along with the playing record of the Junior teams.) A Yorkshire Cup tie at Sandal and a home game against Billingham next week for this crew. The U14s narrowly lost to West Hartlepool on a day that 8 players were missing because of North Yorkshire trials, a credit to their strength in depth (see report). It also serves as an important reminder to us all that junior rugby is not all about the winning, that it’s important we find opportunities for the 'squad players' to get lots of time on the pitch.

CLUB NEWS Congratulations to Jack Willis, son of ‘Wincie’ and a member of our U16s squad. Jack is an outstanding rugby player, but you may not know that he excels at many other sports. He is doing exceptionally well as a triathlete, recently finishing 6th in the British Youth Championships, but was the highest finisher in his year group; he also won the recent Roseberry Topping fell race, virtually a minute in front of the 2nd place runner (an adult). But the icing on the cake was being selected a year young for the four-man England team to run in last Saturday’s Home International Fell Running Championships (uphill only) at Melmerby, near Penrith. He finished 4th out of the 16 juniors in the race, and gets another go next year as he was running as an U15 in an U16 race. Less than 24 hours later Jack took his place at scrum-half to play a pivotal role in our U16s great Yorkshire Cup win over Scarborough (see separate match report). Well done Jack, we are all extremely proud of you and your achievements, as well as your commitment to the Club. Even Wincey himself is finding it hard to disguise the pride he feels.

There is another of our fantastic Wine & Cheese Evenings tonight, our fantastic Fireworks and Bonfire Night on 5 November, the judging of the Pumpkin Growing Contest at Halloween, Christmas Lunch on 15 December, the world-famous 4th Annual Acklam Park Pie Baking Competition on 18 December followed by the Carol sing-a-long on 20 December and the Annual Ball, to be held on Saturday 29 December at the Thistle Hotel in central Middlesbrough. Watch this space!

REFEREE’S CORNER I am delighted to welcome Chris Dinnie back to Acklam Park this afternoon – he was in charge of our pre-season match just weeks ago. Like our referees for the Pocklington and Malton & Norton matches Chris was a scrum half before he took up the whistle five years ago, playing for Cleckheaton. He makes his living selling surgical equipment. I hope he enjoys his return visit with us this afternoon.