WELCOME I am delighted to welcome our visitors from Halifax back to Acklam Park. We have been often joined in combat with O Crossleyans over the past two decades, something like thirteen times my old memory tells me, winning all but three (although nine of the games were here at Acklam Park). I should add that two of our visitors three wins were in our last three encounters, 28-13 and 36-10 at Broomfield Avenue in October this season and November last season respectively, although we did win our home match 41-5 on a wet and miserable afternoon last March.

Crocks are having a pretty satisfactory campaign this time around, lying sixth in the table with eight victories giving them 44 points, including a very impressive 12 bonus points. They might have expected more as seven of their successes were achieved in their opening 11 games, before they embarked on a five-match losing streak; the rot was stopped with a good 28-20 win over Morpeth last Saturday. Not too much should be read into the blip; two of the defeats were by a single point, with the total deficit in four of their reverses being a mere 10 points. That Morpeth game was a hard-fought exciting match which swung too and fro. The half time score was 17-6 in favour of Crocks but Morpeth outscored their hosts 14-11 after the break but could not do enough to snatch a win. Our opponents have won only two away games, both in November, 24-22 at Driffield and 35-13 at Alnwick. I hope they don't add a third away scalp to their belts today!

LEAGUE RUGBY How do you begin to describe our last home game against Huddersfield YMCA? How can you begin to describe it? Well, for me the place to start is at half time. From the whistle we were like terriers, snapping and snarling at our visitors, pushing them back at every ruck and maul, and it was no surprise, and our just desserts, when Ash went over for our first try. We maintained our pressure and YM just couldn't cope with the bombardment; they certainly didn't know how to stem the wave after wave of attacks. Such sustained pressure had to bring its rewards and sure enough Frenchie crashed over, with Jack adding a fine conversion. Try as we might we just could not add to our tally, and then with the referee ready to blow no-side, YM managed to breach our defence. So we won the half 12-7 and I have to say it was a pretty dominant performance. But, and it's a big but, our first half display wasn't quite up to scratch. In fact it was completely different to the second half. We were seven points down after seven minutes, and I'm afraid that sequence unfortunately continued throughout the first half. As a result of some strong running and good handling at speed by YM they were scored an impressive 36 points before the break. Not for the first time this season I just don't understand our shaky start coupled with a much improved second half; if we could ignore the first period and stitch together our second half performances this season we'd be flying high in the table.

Saturday's match at Pocklington followed a familiar path. We lost the second half 7-5 (our try being scored by James Wardle) but unfortunately we were already 22-0 behind, having conceded four first half tries. One of them was an interception when we were attacking inside Pocklington's 22 and a planned move went astray. We conceded another from a 5m scrum, but on our put-in; it was just a tad disappointing.

OTHER RUGBY What a sight!! Although it was a fortnight ago and I've only just recovered from seeing three of our finest athletes, posing topless, flexing their rippling muscles at the entrance to the pavilion. Bobby Thompson, Peter McGravey and Chris Horton were lapping up the adulation, following the 'A' team's magnificent 15-12 victory over Darlington Mowden Park. They were showboating before the Wasps' players got in on the act following their scorcher of a game in beating West Hartlepool 26-12. Unfortunately the Lions couldn't make it a hat trick of wins, losing 15-7 at Darlington. The outing to Ponteland for a combined Senior and Junior Colts team was called off, although both Colts teams did play last week. The Seniors made the journey 'over the top' to Wigton, resplendent, of course, in a motley collection of – wigs. They enjoyed a real cracker-jack of a game, losing by four points in a 58-points thriller. The Junior Colts made no mistake in their home game against Horden, running out 29-5 winners, not that it should be a surprise – they have lost only once so far this season. Horden fared rather better at home to our Wasps; we conceded four forward-dominated tries on a pitch which resembled a quagmire of a postage stamp and which made it difficult for our lads to play any running rugby – difficult but not impossible, as flier Ross McNeill showed when he finished off a great move that was probably the only free-flowing rugby seen in the whole of the game. The indefatigable Eddie 'Captain' Scott continues to secure fixtures from thin air, with the Lions benefiting with a home game against Consett, their sixteenth game of the season. They made it 10 wins with an emphatic 39-5 scoreline.
JUNIORS I'm not sure whether this is a 'Junior' item or 'Club News' but last Saturday saw an unusual gathering in the Clubhouse, a mixed bag of former Juniors here for a reunion to beat all reunions - Andrew Micklewright arranged a get-together of former U13s, who were the first to win the Yorkshire Cup 20 years ago. Their coaches also attended – our current President Stuart Micklewright and John Crowther – as did several parents. Let's hope it is the first of many similar assemblies.

Pity our present little U13s. On their way to a triangular contest to include Acklam at Blaydon on Sunday they were passing through Peterlee on their bus (giving a lift to several Acklam lads) when they received a message that the games were cancelled.

CLUB NEWS Great news! Glenis Wright is organising our first 'Ladies Day' to take place from 12 noon on Saturday 22 March, when the 1st team entertains Rochdale. Our grateful thanks go not only to Glenis but also to Bill Blakey of Kaefer C&D Ltd, who will sponsor the event. In addition to mountains of food and gallons of drink Glenis has already collected a phenomenal number of absolutely first class prizes for the free draw and raffle and is determined to make this the biggest Club event since the Annual Ball. Proceeds
will go to the Spinal Injuries Association. See p18 for more details.

SPONSORS I am delighted to offer a big welcome to a brand new sponsor, Mark Jones of Armstrong Richardson – first time as a sponsor but no stranger to sponsored matches, having attended several as a guest. Armstrong Richardson is a family-owned company based in Stokesley whose activities centre around feeding animals. They have country stores branded Millbry Hill selling country clothing and footwear, pet and equestrian products and small holder feeds at Stokesley, Whitby, Richmond and Whitehaven. From Head Office at Stokesley they sell all types of agricultural inputs from seed, feed and fertilizer to bespoke grass seed mixes. They also distribute horse and pet food to independent retailers all over the UK. I hope Mark and his guests have a thoroughly pleasant afternoon.

REFEREE'S CORNER I am delighted to welcome Colin Tovey back to Acklam Park this afternoon. Colin is a dentist from Wakefield who played his rugby with Leeds Medics, Headingley and West Park Bramhope; he is well equipped to police the 'dark arts' – he was a hooker! He has been refereeing for 24 years and is the Chairman of the Central Yorkshire Referees Society. Colin has been a visitor to Acklam Park on at least three occasions, the last of which was our league game against Sheffield in November. I hope he enjoys his time with us this afternoon.