WELCOME I an delighted to welcome everyone back to Acklam Park – it's been six long weeks since we last gathered here to support our boys, six weeks during which we have suffered three consecutive postponements. To mark the return of rugby I am pleased to welcome Selby for what I believe is their fifth visit – and here let me thank Pete Wright for his studious and meticulous research and tabulation of many statistics and records. Our first three encounters were in the Yorkshire Cup; we won all three but the scores got increasingly close. Thirty five years ago we won 20-9 here at Acklam Park; the following year, at Selby, the score was 7-10. Thirteen years later in 2001 we escaped from Selby by the skin of our teeth with a 15-16 semi-final victory courtesy of a drop goal by centre Lucky Wilson, deep into added time and much to the utter dismay and consternation of the home supporters. (We experienced similar disappointment in the final, losing 24-26 to Sandal.) It would be another 13 years before we again met, but in the past seven years we've met seven times, all in Y1. Our only defeat was in that first league fixture, 6-3 at Selby, with our only score being a Jack Bircham penalty.

When we met in November Selby were going great guns in fourth place, having lost only two of theeir eight games – and those by a total of only eight points. Before the match I was more than a little nervous. In the event we produced some outstanding rugby to take the spoils. Selby then stuttered a little, beating Goole before losing their next five matches. However they're now back on track and have won their last four games, scoring 161 points and moving back up to fifth place. AND be aware that they have lost only three of eight matches away from home!

LEAGUE RUGBY Let me offer our heartiest congratulations to Matthew Helm for chalking up over 200 appearances in 1st team colours, and at the coal face, no less, during which time he has scored seven tries. Matty's debut was against Billingham on 9 October 2010, a game we won 33-8. Practising the dark arts in the front row is a speciality in its own right and we are grateful for his dedication to our cause over the years.

Although it's been six weeks since our last home match, it's been four weeks since we played any first team rugby. First Covid intervened at West Leeds followed by two postponements by YMCA because their pitch was unfit. We'll entertain West Leeds in two weeks; the rearranged YM game we are told will take place on 30 April.

Never was the quality of rugby or the strength of clubs in Yorkshire 1 better illustrated than in the three matches before our enforced break. Against Bradford Salem it was top of the table at home to bottom of the table. We did win but they took the lead twice before the first half finished all square at 10-all. This was followed by two away matches, the first at 3rd placed Pontefract. Billed as the match of the day in Y1 it certainly lived up to expectations. It was an epic game with both teams at it hammer and tongs and the result in doubt until the final whistle. Despite facing a pack of men mountains and a team which had posted 71 points against Bridlington the week previous our boys dominated the early stages and were never behind until the final minute, when our hosts slotted a difficult penalty to win 24-22. We were ahead 7-22 at the break but Pontefract threw everything at us in the second half and snatched the victory in a cracking game.

And then we were off to Goole for a game rearranged from the end of November. Now 8th in the table our opponents were then 3rd bottom, but, despite taking a 0-7 and then a 5-14 lead, the omens weren't good when we lost the returning Myles very early and then captain Pete before the break. These injuries allowed Martin Quinn to make his first team debut and Mike Thornburn his seasonal debut, but keeping the ball tight Goole were 19-14 ahead at HT and then suddenly we were 29-14 down. We did add another seven-pointer but could not close the gap further. A final monstrous 40 yard drop goal by our hosts and we returned home pointless.

CLUB RUGBY When the 1st team lost by two points at Pontefract our Wasps lost at home to Stockton by three points. We did out-score them six tries to five, but former Boro boy Te-kori Moore converted every Stockton try. His father, Simon was in our colours, but, let me hasten to add, not on kicking duty. A fly-half of repute, he played in just about every position in the pack.

Our U14s have been training hard and working on the new rules introduced this year, including lineouts and conversions. The team has really started to gel and at home to Hartlepool Rovers both teams started strongly but the boys emerged with a 66-19 victory. Even more impressive than the score was the way the boys supported and encouraged each other, showing great teamwork and sportsmanship. The previous weekend they welcomed Westoe, and showing strength in attack and defence from the kick off they won 40-7.

CLUB NEWS Sadly I have to report that Big Phil, Phil Hodgson, died suddenly this week. A regular around Acklam Park and on past trips and excursions, he devoted a lot of time in recent years to looking after Mike Harradance. RIP Phil.

An Easter Eggstravaganza for children is being organised between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday 10 April. For £6 per child there are games, prizes, a disco, snax box, and an Easter egg. Tickets are available from Jenna and Andy Micklewright. Further details are on the Notice Board.

NOTE that our Silver Trophy fixture at either Salem or Thornensians will NOT now take place. Yorkshire has abandoned all Cup competitions this season.

SCHOOLS TOURNAMENTS AT ACKLAM PARK IN MARCH
Bernie Coyne needs your help! If you have any free time this month he would welcome your assistance – in any capacity! – with any one of the tournaments listed on p 9. Anyone available or interested please have a word with Bernie as soon as possible.

TODAY'S SPONSORS are Charles Clinkard of the Clinkard Group and James Barker of Barker & Stonehouse. We are delighted to welcome the return of two of the area's long-established family retail businesses, both continuing to grow ever-burgeoning international reputations for quality products and first class customer service. The Clinkard Group is synonymous with top quality footwear and since being established in Middlesbrough 98 years ago now has 44 outlets, from Fife to Jersey to the Isle of Man, and a digitally-sourced overseas clientel, collecting national awards as their expansion gathered pace.

Seventy six years ago Barker & Stonehouse opened their first high quality furniture store in Stockton, expanding across Teesside and the region before aunching their first website in 1996. This attracted customers across the UK and accelerated their growth into London and the southern counties before they dramatically enhanced the entrance to Teesside Retail Park seven years ago with their spectacular new store and head office. Their 75th Anniversary last year was augmented by the award of Carbon Neutral Plus status for their efforts which included ten years of afforestation in Indonesia working with Trees4Trees. I hope we can serve up an entertaining afternoon for Charles, James and their guests.

REFEREE'S CORNER This afternoon I am delighted to welcome two referees to Acklam Park. Philip Gordge will take care of things on the 1st pitch; he was a No 8 who played at London University and Bromley before becoming a referee 15 years ago. He has been here several times in the past seven years, his last visit being three years ago when we played Hullensians. A pharmacist Phil lives in Bridlington. Looking after the Wasps/Selby match is Sean Loftus. I hope they both enjoys their time with us today.

The club is 150 years old in November! See p 11 for more information about our plans to commemorate this historic Anniversary!