WELCOME After eight months of toil and effort, with games played in the mud and snow, the wind and the rain, it all comes down to this one game. Our season is defined by today's result – a winner-takes-all battle for that remaining promotion spot into N1E. And here to join us in that battle I am pleased to extend a very warm welcome to Malton & Norton, who have finished second to Bradford & Bingley and are coming here also hoping to finish-off their season with a bang. (See p2 for the Y1 table.) Before we plied our wares in D/N1 we were league companions with M&N for four seasons. Of those eight league matches we won all our games at home but only one at Malton. Two seasons ago we were both relegated from N1E but then performed better in Y1 last year. Whilst we finished fourth with 73 points Malton were again second, to Doncaster Phoenix, with 97 points. They then played at Morpeth in the promotion decider but lost 14-11.
(For the record, if the match is all-square at full time the result shall be determined by the following sequence of events: extra time of 10 minutes each way, the team with the most tries, then goals from tries, and finally, if still equal, the away team will prevail.)
Our visitors started the season with a comfortable Cup victory at West Park Leeds, followed by an opening league win at Hullensians before losing at home to York by a single point. They then won their next five games before losing at Heath – by two points! They enjoyed another five successes before they entertained Bradford & Bingley, and lost 10-22. That was mid-December, after which they chalked up 11 more victories before they again met those b..b..boys from B&B, two weeks ago and again lost. However they concluded their regular fixtures with a flourish by claiming a bonus-point win against Hullensians on Saturday.
Many of you will know that at the beginning of this month Robert Stephenson, a 21 year-old playing member at Malton & Norton, was tragically killed in a road accident in York. His parents have set up the Rob Stephenson Trust to help local children play and access sport and further education. As a mark of our respect today's gate money will be donated to this Trust.
A TRIPLE CELEBRATION! What a wonderful weekend! On Saturday our Wasps completed the CANDY Cup and League double, on Sunday our U17s achieved similar success winning the Durham Cup and League double to add to their Northern Plate Title, and our 1st XV finished off the league fixtures with an emphatic 31-0 win over Rovers. Many, many congratulations to everyone concerned. The Wasps met Novos in the CANDY Cup final, at Darlington, where Novos first team were completing their league programme. It was a tense and close game, with the scores even at 10-all at half time, and then 27-24 with only minutes to go, but we triumphed 32-24. In their final the U17s played West Hartlepool at Bishop Auckland, a match that was even tenser and closer. We were 3-0 up at the break, then 10-0 in front before West scored a converted try; 10-7, with both teams striving their utmost for another score, but there was none. You'll find reports and team photographs on pp4 and 9. And just to round off a fantastic weekend, on Sunday our U15s were hosts to Syston, who were on tour and fresh from beating Morpeth the previous day. After the game Trevor Deeks did a good job manning the BBQ for the young men, all of whom had built up a healthy appetite scoring 61 points, 39 of them by our boys.
LEAGUE RUGBY We started our last league game against Rovers feeling that a win of any description would be enough to earn us home advantage today, and for the majority of the match it looked as though a four point win was what we'd get. We started brightly with the wind at our back and looking strong in scrums and lineouts. Our first try began when we won a Rovers' lineout and ended with Ash scoring, converted by Matty. Despite keeping up the pressure half time was approaching before Ben crossed the line, and then almost immediately another untidy Rovers' lineout ended with Joe scoring, Matty again adding two points to put us 19-0 ahead at the break, seemingly well placed for bonus point. However much of the second half was played in our 22 with Rovers attacking our line time and time again. But we weathered the storm and finished strongly, with Ben having a 'try' disallowed, then Euan adding the bonus try with only minutes remaining, followed by Mike crashing through their defence for a final try and victory.
CLUB NEWS It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that our Captain Marvel, Bellers the Brilliant, is retiring after today's game. I find his excuses a bit weak; a leg about to drop off and some sort of expanding business empire...For the past decade Rob has reigned supreme, delighting us with his inimitable style of rugby; we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chris Webb, who invited Rob, a former pupil of his at Yarm School, to join us at Acklam Park on his return from a year in New Zealand. Over the years I have delighted in watching him slice through the opposition with his instinctive eye for a half gap, or drawing the defence before slipping the ball to a colleague, but more than that...what about his defence! He can tackle a tank to a standstill and he quickly earned the title of 'Baby-faced Assassin.' His robust example created a back line renowned for its fearsome defence and was a joy to watch. As our captain these past three years he has led by example, his quiet and intelligent authority demanding respect from players and supporters. His very presence lifts the team. THANK YOU Rob; we'll miss you on the field but look forward to seeing you, often I hope, in and around the place.
Rob still has duties to perform after the match today, presenting 1st XV ties to Euan, Ben, Chris Palmer, Liam, Myles and Ali. Congratulations to each and every one of them. They all progressed through our Junior Section, as did 17 of last week's team. It's a record of which we're rightly extremely proud. The exception? Bellers himself, who joined us as a 19 year-old.

Good luck to Sam Gaudie and the Yorkshire U20s in the County final against Northumberland at Twickenham next Saturday. Sam is also in the North of England U20s squad to compete in the Divisional Festival in Leicestershire, following which 23 players will be selected to take part in a tour by the England Counties U20 team to Russia this summer. Congratulations and good luck to him, and to James Wright, another Boro old boy who is also in the squads.

There is someone else who deserves our highest praise and gratitude – Steve Davies, our groundsman. In one of the worst and wettest seasons I can remember he has worked tirelessly, here and at Tollesby Road, to ensure we've not had to postpone a single match. It is testament to his skill that the first team pitch looked in great condition last week, and that on the adjacent square the cricket 1st XI were able to play – and win – their opening match of their season. And he's always smiling!
And our usual reminders: our Annual Dinner and Presentation Night is at the Sporting Lodge on Friday 13 May; our Junior Dinner is the next Friday, same venue; the U11s and U12s end of season Awards and BBQ will be held here on Sunday 15 May at 2pm; our AGM will be held on 15 June; our Beer Festival will run from Friday evening to Saturday night, 22/23 July. AND there will a karaoke session in the Club from 9 o'clock tonight!
Looking just a little further afield, next Saturday Yorkshire will play Lancashire at Scarborough in the opening exchanges of the County Championship. And then in June the U20 World Championships will take place at Manchester. It is a 12-team, 30-match tournament, with England in a pool with Australia, Italy and Scotland. The tournament kicks off on 7 June with the final on 25 June.
Our best wishes to Terry Wesson, who is up and about again following his bout of pneumonia. And if you look up Andy Murray's brother, Peter, on facebook, you'll see photographs of him in various locations waving a copy of our programme, which he's taking on a world tour! He lives in Australia but gets regular copies of our august journal from Andy.
REFEREE'S CORNER I am pleased to welcome Peter Stentiford back to Acklam Park this afternoon. He is a Whitby man, and has been here many times, originally as a scrum-half for Whitby and then as a referee, although this is the first time he has taken charge of our 1st team. Peter now runs Whitby RUFC, has been a referee for six years and is a member of the RFU North Panel. He is assisted by touch judges Liam Rogers (Durham) and Lewis Harrison (Yorkshire).
Finally, whatever the result today, thank you all for your support over the season, it is much appreciated. I hope we see you all again next season, wherever we're playing.