WELCOME Today, for our first home game for a month, I am delighted to welcome our close friends and neighbours from Stockton for a two-way battle – for league points and the Alan Todd Trophy. Alan was a regular and popular social member of this Club but an integral part of Stockton's structure as a player and official for a great many years and it is a real pleasure to keep his memory alive.

Having scored over 1000 points last season to finish fourth with 99 league points Stockton must have relished the opportunity to get back in business and push for an even better season. And sure enough our visitors had a great start to their campaign, winning six of their first seven matches, including a Friday night victory over us, with a narrow defeat at Westoe the only blip. They then lost to Medicals and Consett before retuning to winning ways; they've since lost only one of seven matches. I must say that that solitary defeat was the shock result of the week. Having put second-placed Northern well and truly to the sword the week previous they then lost 20-31 at home to Novos. Of course nothing is quite as it seems; Stockton played the majority of the match with only 14 men and yet were only 11-14 down at the break before taking a 20-14 lead; with only eight minutes to play the match was still anyone's, poised at 20-21 but then the effort of being a man short took its toll. They will be pleased that they had the opportunity to put it behind them and score 50 points in the rearranged match at Barney's on Saturday.

When we were last in DN1 we won our home game 36-23 but then drew 19-19 at Stockton. Although we were disappointed – we were 12-19 ahead with seconds on the clock – it could have been worse for us; Stockton's initial 12-0 lead could have been 20-0 with successful pots at goal. But enough of the past – let us all look forward to a thrilling match this afternoon and thoroughly enjoy the occasion.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! What a fantastic way to start the new year. Following our three wins in December, in which we scored a total of 27 tries to banish the memories of that very disappointing display against Acklam, and which also earned us the proud accolade of England Rugby's National Team of December at level 7 – a monthly award highlighting outstanding performances of teams – we faced the second half of the season with renewed determination.

We welcomed 2020 with a much-anticipated return fixture with Northern. What a match to relish! It was a clash between the third and second placed teams, the only teams to have scored over 500 points and to have a points difference of plus 300. To say it lived up to its star billing is an understatement. With both teams playing very good rugby it was a cracker-jack of a match. We scored five tries to three, with full back Matty Todd being the first to touch down before each of our three-quarters also crossed the line; Baggy added four conversions and a penalty. There were some great tries but a clear contender for try of the season, was undoubtedly our third. Starting with a scrum on our own 5m line we won the ball and in a blur it was moved from Jamie to Baggy who passed out wide to Bren, who made yards up the wing before slipping it back to Baggy to shift on to Toddy; he took play infield before off-loading to Ali who shipped the ball on to his back row partner Toby, who passed to Pete to send Sean over the line. Pure magic!

We followed this fine performance with two games on Tyneside to meet Novos and then Rockcliff. At Novos we kicked-off into a howling gale and put in terrific shift of controlled rugby to go into the break with a narrow 17-19 lead. With the wind behind us we really ripped into our hosts to win 17-60. Captain Pete gathered five tries. (And here's an interesting statistic: that is the fifth time in the past 50 years that someone has scored five tries in a match. The others are Mike Wright in 1971/72, 0-46 at Gateshead Fell; Steve Pawson in 1974/75, 9-49 at Scarborough; Richard Forrest in 1987/88, 40-9 at home to Darlington and 2003/04, Andy Micklewright, 59-19 at home to Northern.)

And so on to Rockcliff for a game that was entertaining, pulsating and a great advert for a game . We ventured cautiously onto their artificial grass but scorched into a 17 point lead inside 20 minutes. Andy opened the scoring after two minutes with a penalty before we 'd even touched the ball and then a blistering 80 yard run by Sean ended with our first try, closely followed by another seven-pointer when Jack went over the line. A third try, from Bren this time, and two for our hosts took the half time score to 12-24. There was no score in the third quarter with our dogged defence keeping a determined Rockcliff at bay. Eventually WBR did cross the line, but it was to be their final score. We responded with a bonus point try started and finished by Pete, before we wrapped up the match in the final ten minutes when Ali crossed after Jamie took a quick tap, and then Pete added his second.

As a result of our six consecutive victories, scoring 48 tries and 321 points against 100, and maintaining our record of a bonus point per match, we have moved into second place. Our aim is to stay there – it is unlikely that anyone can close the 13 point gap opened up by Consett but there are four clubs snapping at our heels (including Stockton!).

CLUB NEWS I must start with our sincere condolences to Lauren and Ross McNeill. The tragic loss of their son Arthur William is completely devastating and heartbreaking. I only hope that they can draw some comfort from the deep love and support of family and friends.

There's better news about Terry Wesson; he is now home after seven weeks in hospital. Terry was our Clubman of the Year last season and has been sorely missed as the friendly face of the Club, smiling as he forcibly extracted money at the gate on match days! We all send him our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. As we do to Matty Helm and his poorly arm; I hope he quickly casts off the cast.

To those of you unable to attend our Burns Supper a week ago I can only say you missed a treat. Not only did we have a piper to lead off the proceedings and then welcome the haggis, but also a traditional address to the haggis, plus Robert Burns poetry recited in a broad South Yorkshire accent, fun and games compèred by Brian Sexton, a magnificent choral performance from Peter Riley and John Westwood, and of course a full-blown and hearty rendition of our Club Song. It was a great night.

SPONSORS We are again delighted to welcome as our sponsors the Richards' Readman and Storry. Lithgow Sons & Partners, Stokesley, specialise in auctions of industrial and commercial goods and properties, as well as providing asset valuation and disposal, commercial property valuations, residential property and storage services. Readman Steel's primary products are large diameter tubular piles. They also stock a range of sheet piles and structural sections, and with access to rolling mills throughout Europe, can supply direct from stock or produce new pipes to exact specifications. How appropriate that the 1958/59 team photograph in this programme includes Richard's father, Bill, who was the Club's very first match sponsor when we hosted Gosforth way back when. Both companies are great supporters of the Club, last season sponsoring our Friday night match with Guisborough, and we are pleased to welcome them and their guests for what I hope will be an enjoyable afternoon.

REFEREE'S CORNER It gives me much pleasure to welcome Matthew Higgins to Acklam Park this afternoon. Although he has been here in the past, having played here in the back row in Darlington's colours, this is his first visit to us as a referee. Matthew took up the whistle three years ago; he now lives in Wetherby and works for Rail Network out of York and Leeds. I hope he enjoys his time with us today.