WELCOME It gives me great pleasure to welcome Medicals back to Acklam Park. Last September we met here for the first time in 54 years, a close match we won 20-12, but with several twists and turns; Matty was injured in the warm-up but our re-jigged side stormed into a 20-0 lead at the break, confident of a securing a bonus point, but in the event we were desperately defending our line at no-side. We did rather better in the return leg, scoring five tries to win 34-7. I do believe this is Toby's last match before he starts preparing for winter by hibernating to the Alps to become a chalet maid! We'll certainly miss his athleticism, his drive and his all-round power-play; he takes with him our best wishes.

This season our visitors lost their opening four games, starting with a cup match at Ponteland, and then three league games, including the infamous home game against Northern, which they lost 18-101 and in their desire to put out a team to fulfil the fixture inadvertently fielded two unregistered players and, as a result, were docked 10 points. What a bummer. However since then our visitors have won five (Ryton H, Stockton, Gateshead and Hartlepool all A, and Consett H) and lost three, but only by three points to table-toppers Barnard Castle. On Saturday they lost 32-16 at Westoe.

LEAGUE RUGBY At the end of our game with Hartlepool my first thoughts were: “Where is Terry Fitzpatrick and his video camera when he is needed?” Such was the fantastic array of tries we scored I wanted to sit back and watch all seven of them again – and again and again. Ten minutes into the match we were on the scoreboard when Ally Lang broke through to score under the posts. Ten minutes into the second half another forward secured our bonus point when Captain Liam battled and barged his way over the line. The other five tries were from our backs, with a combination of individual trickery and great teamwork. On the half hour young Jay Ellis was set free to scorch down the line leaving Hartlepool floundering in his wake, and then on the stroke of half time the even younger Sam Seymour produced a wonderful piece of magic to plant the ball behind the line. Despite Hartlepool having the major share of possession over the 40 minutes Matty's trusty boot ensured we turned around 21-3 ahead.

After the break but before Liam's try a typically powerful surge by our visitors' pack earned then seven points, but that was to be the last time they bothered the scorer. Our fifth try was straight from the classic textbook of coaching. We were attacking up the left touchline when Shaun Richardson, in his first game since rejoining us, hoisted a high cross-field kick into the waiting arms of Nolly, standing out wide on the opposite wing, completely unmarked; a simple but beautifully executed try. We finished on a high with two individual tries as first Matty and then Sean Moloney galloped away from deep inside our own half to score. Seven tries, five conversions, final score 45-10, job done. I must add a word of praise for our defence. 'Pool has robust pack which kept pounding away at us but our young team, showing great resolve and commitment, tackled like demons to keep us in charge. (The RFU website showed the scoreline as 45-0, whereas Hartlepool's website showed it as 43-10 – I can assure you it was 45-10!)

Our next fixture was Consett, away. The weather forecasts last weekend promised snow and frost for higher ground I thought our game might be in jeopardy; after all the Consett pitch is the second highest in England and there was lying snow when we played there last season. In the end it wasn't too bad, although in the game itself we had mixed fortunes. After a pretty good first 40 minutes we let matters slip in the second half to end up on the wrong side of a 27-22 scoreline. All our points were scored in the first half, with a try from Nolly and a brace from Tom Symon, plus a penalty and two conversions from Matty, giving us a 3-22 lead, shortened to 10-22 at half time. Unfortunately we had Mike red-carded when he received a second yellow, and played 10 of the last 12 minutes with 13 men after Tom was also yellow-carded. During this time we conceded a penalty try; suffice to say that such tries are always contentious. We were delighted to welcome Peter Homan back into the fold but we did suffer from a few injuries, illnesses and other non-availabilities, so I would particularly like to record our appreciation to Matty Helm, who drove back from Liverpool on Saturday morning, having attended a works function on Merseyside on Friday evening.

OTHER MATCHES Last week the Wasps picked up a late fixture at Horden & Peterlee and returned with a healthy 34-13 win under their belts. This compensated just a little for the heavy defeat at Tynedale the week previous. Incidentally Tynedale are prone to travel sickness but were told we do expect to see them down here next time around! Today the Wasps are at Percy Park in North Shields, their fourth consecutive away game. However, although nothing is yet scheduled for next week they are then at home to Mowden Park and again to Northern, who couldn't field a team to visit us in September. Despite Alex's best endeavours the 'A' team were without a match last week, but manage a game at Northallerton the week earlier

The successes of the Colts continue. Since losing their 100 per cent record to a strong Sheffield side three weeks ago they managed to beat Darlington (who had seven lads in the Durham County U18s) in the National Cup Competition, leaving it to the final moments of the game to secure the win when centre Jared Poole crashed over for a 10-5 scoreline. The following week saw Doncaster visit Acklam Park in the Yorkshire League and race into a 0-12 lead within 15 minutes! But Boro regrouped and the pack began to dominate, resulting in them getting back on level terms and then building a 24-12 lead. Doncaster then found another gear, but Boro held on for a well deserved, if nail-biting, 27-26 win. Their next home game is against York in two weeks in the Yorkshire Cup (KO 1pm), followed by an away trip to O Brodleians in the National Cup. We wish them on-going success.

And another pat on the back for the U13s. Last weekend they returned from Redcar with a very credible 15-all draw, with the try-scoring machine Reece McDonald bagging a hat-trick. A short report is on p4.

CLUB NEWS I'm pleased to see Chris Horton back on his feet after his two weeks bed-and-breakfast holiday in James Cook Hospital, just in time to start planning for the jam-packed programme of activity throughout the Festive Season. It all kicks off with the pool tournament on Wednesday, 7 December, followed in close-order by a host of events, culminating in a free-entry New Year's Eve Party with live music and buffet. For details turn back a page to p9.

SPONSORS We are delighted to welcome our two sponsors today, Mark Jones of Armstrong Richardson & Co Ltd, Mount Pleasant Way, Stokesley Business Park, Stokesley and Jonathan Cooper of Coopers Chemists, at Redcar, Marske and Great Ayton. Traditionally Armstrong Richardson was an agricultural merchant trading since 1925. Although still an agricultural merchant, it has evolved over the years and now has four country stores across the north of England under the banner of Millbry Hill – at Stokesley, Whitby, Richmond and Whitehaven – a fuel business selling to domestic and agricultural customers and a wholesaling business selling horse and pet products across the whole country. Part of the group is AR Entertainments, who have a huge range of equipment that caters for children's parties, student balls, weddings, corporate events and glitzy society balls.

Coopers are a family owned pharmacy business that have been serving Middlesbrough and the surrounding area for over 50 years. They offer a personal friendly pharmaceutical service and are keen to promote local sport and healthy lifestyle advice. Jonathan enjoyed a brief spell playing for the Club in the 80’s alongside the likes of Richard Readman (and accidentally played again 20 years later when he was a guest at a sponsored game!) and he is very pleased to be associated with the club again by sponsoring today’s game.

REFEREE'S CORNER I am pleased to welcome Carl Walsh from the Central Yorkshire Society back to Acklam Park. His was in charge of our last league game against Hartlepool Rovers last season, having also officiated in previous league matches against Selby and Hullensians earlier that season. Carl is from Otley and played his rugby as a hooker. He has been a referee for 12 years and described himself as a 'bed guru.' I hope he enjoys his visit to us this afternoon.