WELCOME...and the compliments of the season to you all. I hope each and every one of you – players and supporters, members and visitors – has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am sure that you are already in the festive spirit, wrapping the presents and planning a fun-filled time over the festivities; those of you who have partaken of our most enjoyable and excellent Christmas lunch will feel that warm glow of bonhomie so special at this time of year. Hopefully it will continue this afternoon with a cracking game of rugby and then again tomorrow evening with the humongous Members Grand Draw; this will be closely followed by our 5th Annual Acklam Park Pie Baking Competition on Tuesday (see p5), with our sometimes haunting, sometimes raucous but always fantastic Carol Sing-a-long two nights later. And before we finish off the year with a real bang on New Year's Eve there is our Annual Ball on Saturday 28 December. (By the way, looking ahead to Red Nose Day on 23 March I am pleased to announce that the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Albert Park is being hosted by Middlesbrough Rugby Club.)

And to join us in our celebrations I am delighted to welcome back to Acklam Park our visitors from Doncaster, Wheatley Hills. At least I hope we're all on the touch line ready and eager for the match to begin. I say that because last season the weather intervened quite dramatically whenever the name “Wheatley Hills” was mentioned – we were due to meet here in January, but it was called off, again in February, but it was called off again, before we eventually got the match played in mid-March. Having lost our away game 12-36, we also lost the return fixture 21-33. Earlier this season, almost before we'd found our feet after the close season changes, we lost 8-36 in the second game. Three games, three scores of 30+ points conceded – can you spot the similarities? Well, this afternoon will be different...I hope.

Our visitors' record so far this campaign is pretty even-handed, having won six games, three at home and three away, and lost seven, three at home and four away. Their last seven matches show two wins, at Sheffield and at home to West, then three loses, at YMCA and home to Cleckheaton (a game rearranged when their previous game was abandoned because of an injury to the referee, Simon Parks, one of the best referees we've seen here for some time) and Pocklington, followed by a brace of victories, at O Crossleyans and then at home last week an emphatic 44-11 win against Northern.

LEAGUE RUGBY I must confess I was just a trifle fearful leading up to the Driffield game. I know their only victory in their first nine matches was against bottom club Sheffield, but they did put 64 points past Malton & Norton in the Yorkshire Cup, and they did run in seven tries against Morpeth a week earlier, the same Morpeth who beat us 30-12. My nerves got no better during those opening ten minutes, when we hardly touched the ball, were camped on our own line and were 0-3 down and would have been 0-10 behind but for Driffield dropping the ball in the act of touching down. Oh me of little faith! We won the game, earned a try-scoring bonus point and moved up to eighth in the table. All in all it was a most satisfactory afternoon, when after a truly gritty performance and some superb defence we emerged 30-17 victors, Typically bullocking tries first from Ashley and then from James Wardle, with a penalty and conversion from Simon gave us a 15-3 interval lead. After the break a scything gallop from Bellers looked all the world like taking him over the try line, but he was caught; neverthemind, on hand to provide the finishing touch was Adam Nolson. Although Simon kicked another penalty Driffield came back with two tries, the second with only two minutes of the game remaining, to trail only 23-17. As we were enduring a very nervy finale, with Driffield supporters celebrating at the very least a losing bonus point but hoping for more, we went upfield and Peter Wright wriggled through to touch down; Matty Todd converted the try and the bonus point was ours.

Last week, despite what was at first sight a thrashing at Cleckheaton, I maintain we continued to show heartening signs of improvement. After 30 minutes we were leading 10-5, courtesy of a try from Connor, converted by Matty Todd, who also added a penalty, and at half time we were only 10-12 behind. This against the team not only top of the league but a clear 14 points ahead of second placed YMCA. I admit that we were not as competitive in the second half but I do believe we're getting there. Incidentally there was another game abandoned last week, Rochdale v Sheffield; the home side were leading 10-6 when the referee was injured on the half hour. It will be replayed next week.
OUR OTHER TEAMS It saddens me to announce that after the 'A' team lost their unbeaten record against Northallerton the Wasps did likewise last week at home to Westoe. Well, actually, no it doesn't sadden me, I'm proud of the team. Consider the facts. For various reasons the team was not the settled side we've been able to put out recently, Westoe are top of the CANDY league with a colossal points difference of 222 from nine matches, and in a game that was score-less for 79½ minutes we lost by five points, scored with the last play of the game. I'm told that the roar of relief from the Westoe boys could be heard back on Tyneside. Meanwhile after a blip of a couple of weeks the Lions roared back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory against Northallerton. But praise the lads from Northallerton. They knew on Friday night they were going to be short of players, but instead of crying off they rang us to ask if we would have spare players available to make up numbers, as they wanted to play the match...great! Of course we could lend them lads. They arrived a few more short than we expected but hey ho, just swap a few people around, and as more of their team arrived we continued making various permutations. And then would you believe they scored first and were 7-0 up! However, as I said above, in the end we scored quite a few to win by a very healthy margin, but all credit to Northallerton. Incidentally the week after losing that record the 'A' team were due to play Darlington in the Tees Valley Merit League Cup but were given a walk-over when Darlo cried off, Pleasingly the Senior Colts managed to acquire a fixture last Sunday at Sunderland. Even more pleasingly they won a tight but exciting match 17-12
JUNIORS The U16s continue their good season. A week after they won 27-22 at Wetherby and 17-5 at home to Carlisle they beat Ripon 17-10 at home and won 40-0 at Northern. Our other Junior teams completed a clean sweep away from home against Westoe, the U13s winning 27-22, the U14s winning 29-12 and the U15s winning 26-14. and now for some good news and some not quite so good news - the U14s, U15s and U16s are all still involved at the quarter final stage of the Yorkshire Cup, unfortunately all of them face away ties. The U14s are at Hull Ionians whilst both the other teams are at Scarborough (the U15s in the Plate). Looking ahead the U13s are hosting a touring team from Hinckley (Jonno's former stamping ground) on 10/11 May. Proposed arrangements, involving a triangular tournament, a post-match BBQ, an evening function for players and parents and Sunday lunch, sound like a lot of fun.
SPONSORS Today we are delighted to welcome Ashley Deakin of Carlsberg, today’s sponsors, with thanks for his continued support. Carlsberg was founded in 1847 by J C Jacobsen and was so named after his son Carl and bjerg, the Danish word for hill, on which the brewery was built. The opening ceremony was a lavish affair – I was there. So when you order your pint this afternoon, salute Jacob Christian, and enjoy!

REFEREE'S CORNER As a result of the diligence and perseverance of Match Secretary Andy Murray, who continues to earn our highest appreciation, I am delighted to welcome the third referee appointed to take charge of our game this afternoon, confirmed at 10pm on Wednesday. He is Nigel Dickinson, who has refereed us previously but has never been to Acklam Park. Nigel played in the centre for Huddersfield before taking up the whistle eight years ago; he works in the textile industry. I hope he enjoys his first visit to us, and that this is the first of many similar visits.

Sat 28 Dec: the Alan Todd Memorial Match: Middlesbrough v Stockton, KO 1pm