WELCOME...to you all – to players and supporters of all clubs, to visitors and to our sponsors and their guests – for the match which brings down the curtain on another league season. Hopefully it will be a fitting finale, serving up entrainment of the highest order which will live long in our memories. And to help us create those memories we extend a special welcome to Hartlepool Rovers, who, like ourselves, have a long and proud history, as you can see elsewhere in the programme. Games between us go back a century; I hope today's is an agreeable addition to this tradition. I said all clubs. I'm pleased to welcome Blaydon who play our Wasps in a CANDY League and Bowl Final double-header, which kicked off at 2pm as a curtain-raiser to the final curtain!

Rovers started the league season with three home fixtures from four in September. First up was us, and although we won that opening game (10-13 with a late penalty getting us over the line) Rovers went on to beat Northern and Westoe, currently in 1st and 2nd in the table; their other reversal was at Horden. The sequence of two wins and two losses continued into October and November, but then things changed. They lost all three league games in December and have won only three more since the end of November. As a result our visitors have slipped to 11th place, having finished 7th with 12 victories in the last campaign. Today is a repeat of the final league game of last year, when we won 31-0; but beware – a win could move Rovers up the final table, something I'm sure they'll be chasing.

LEAGUE RUGBY It was great that the members' reunion day was so well attended for our last outing against Westoe, and the last game in charge for our coach Shaun Cassidy; it was a cracking send-off for Shaun, and we thank him for the time and effort he has put into our cause. The match had plenty of action, excitement and drama, and in the end we were a little unlucky to lose 18-22. We suffered a disallowed try in each half, our visitors scored a penalty in the 52nd minute of the first half and after only 20 minutes Westoe were warned that another penalty against them would result in a card, but the only yellow card of the game was given to us.

An early penalty gave us the lead but then our visitors scored a converted try. We hit back quickly and a try from Conner after a strong surge by Peter took back the lead, a lead we didn't lose until the 79th minute. Another strong break from Peter led to a free kick close to their line; Sam took a quick tap, popped up the ball to Tom who barrelled over. A penalty from Brendan (making up for what I was convinced was a try he scored, but ruled 'held up' by the referee) put us 18-7 in front, with the slope, the sun and the bit of wind in our favour after the break, but before then – that late, late penalty made the half time score 18-10.

Westoe then reverted to forward-dominated catch-drive rugby. It earned them a try mid-way through the half to set up a nail-biting 18-15 finale, and then, after the referee first awarded Sean a try but changed his decision to a line out, Westoe forced their way over with only minutes to spare. It doesn't alter the situation at the top; whoever wins today's match between Barneys and Westoe will finish second in the promotion play-off place.

And talking of promotion, many congratulations to Redcar on being crowned champions of DN2 . They will be promoted into ''our” league, along with Ponteland, and will be joined by Durham City and Guisborough, both coming down from N1E. So, that's four clubs coming into DN1, whilst only three will definitely leave – Northern at the top and Ryton and Hartlepool at the bottom, meaning 15 clubs in a 14-club league, and the spectre of the dreaded 'level transfer'! However this situation could yet change. Whoever wins the Barneys/Westoe game will get the right to play either West Leeds or York from Yorkshire 1, next week, for the final place in N1E.
CONGRATULATIONS to Kieran Clark, who urged his team mates in the Durham County side to victory over Kent at Cranbrook last Sunday in the semi final of the U20s County Championship. They now march on to the final at Twickenham on 6 May...against Yorkshire!
OTHER MATCHES We enjoyed a full house of fixtures two weeks ago. The Wasps went to West, losing narrowly by 14-12. The 'A' team lost at home to Newton Aycliffe, but came back from a 25 point half time deficit to make the final score 29-33. The Colts found yet another game, winning 12-40 at Ripon. Our U13s enjoyed themselves in the sunshine, winning 70-20 against Thirsk; our U15s drew 29-29 at Billingham, and our U16s entertained Whitley Bay Rockcliff, winning 65-12 – see feature on the U16s and report on the U13s.

On Easter Saturday more than 20 of our 2014 Colts turned up for a reunion match in aid of charity. It was good to see some familiar faces back to Acklam Park, not just players but parents (including John O'Boyle, Sue Gaudie and Steve Gaines). On the pitch we saw players who turned out for the 1st team last season but we've lost to university (Penners, Lewis Allan), with Joe Gaudie on the touchline, nursing a poorly shoulder – now with Broughton Park he played three-quarters of his last game with it dislocated! Guisborough were supposed to be the opposition but cried off so the lads decided to have a game of 10s amongst themselves – and what a cracking game it was; the final score of 45-36 says it all. The lads each paid £5, donated to the VSO, and after the match enjoyed a few pints together. I'm pleased to say they intend to make this an annual reunion.

CLUB NEWS Good News – I am pleased to report that Ian Collingwood continues to improve and has started to ease himself back into work. Bad News – we are losing Sarah Hutchinson, who is off to New Zealand. We thank her for all her efforts and wish her well on her journey. Good and bad news – Vice President David Moreton is home from hospital, where he received surgical attention for a major problem; we send him our very best wishes. And sad news; John, the brother of our indefatigable Match Secretary, Andy Murray, died suddenly last week. He was only 58. Our condolences to Andy, brother Peter and the rest of the family.

Our Annual Dinner and Awards Evening will take place at the Sporting Lodge on Friday 5 May. Tickets are available from team coaches and captains, or from Don Brydon or Richard Ward. Our 4th Annual Beer Festival will run from 6-10 pm Friday and 2-10 pm Saturday, 21 and 22 July. With more than 30 cask ales and ciders on sale, plus a gin bar, the entrance fee of £5 covers both days and includes an engraved glass and your first pint. Why don't you get a group together to sponsor a barrel? Have a chat with Simon Moore, Colin McNeill or Tilly.
COME ALONG AND ENJOY OUR KARAOKE ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT!!

SPONSORS This afternoon I am delighted to welcome back two of our regular sponsors and one of our more recent sponsors. They are Andrew Gloag (the 2009 Farmers Weekly Arable Farmer of the Year) of Gloag & Sons Ltd, a farming and contracting business which began on their farm on the outskirts of Stokesley almost a century ago. The business has developed through a variety of agricultural activity, and having plant and equipment available for hire. The family's association with the Club started with Andrew’s father, a Scottish international, who played here in the 50s. Our other regular sponsor also has a father-and-son association with the club – he is Tom Seymour of Dromonby Fisheries and son of John, who played for Rovers before joining us. In fact it was today's clash of John's two clubs which led them to select the game...but John is now at a wedding in the Lake District. Dromonby, which is also at Stokesley, has developed private fishing facilities across a sequence of waterways on their farmland.

Henderson Insurance Broking Group was a first time sponsor last year, the Group's 30th year in business. It is now one of the UK’s top six leading independent insurance brokers operating from 14 offices across the UK, bridging the gap between small local brokers and large multinational corporations. They have strong relationships with leading insurance companies, and direct access to the important Lloyd’s of London market. Their Stockton office is located at Westland Way, Preston Farm Estate. We thank all three companies for their continued support.

REFEREE'S CORNER I am delighted to welcome to Acklam Park Andy Hodgson, a local man from Redcar. Andy is an experienced referee of 25 years standing and is a Parts Manager for Vauxhall. I hope he enjoys his time with us this afternoon.

AND NEXT...THE LIONS' TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND... AND THEN ONLY
19 SATURDAYS UNTIL NEXT SEASON!