Unlike Shields, Ryton’s Senior Colts are a long established outfit and one of the best Colts teams in Durham and Northumberland. In their squad they have a number of County players and a number of their players had played Senior rugby last season in DN1.

A big ask for our lads who fielded 4 senior colts and 7 junior colts and this was the first time many of our lads had met. What was most noticeable was the difference in size between the two sets of lads. If this had been a boxing match it would have been a Welter Weight squaring up to a Heavy Weight.

Playing 7’s on a pitch 50m wide, playing across, Ryton kicked off. Shields received and Ryton immmediately showed their intent by crashing into shields at the breakdown. Shields, didn’t take a backwards step, held onto the ball and started working through the phases, looking after the ball and moving the bigger Ryton lads around. This continued well with Tingle 9, Forster 10 and Dean 12 linking up well to put the wingers Craig and Connor away to get us up the pitch.

With quick ball being generated from Manny and Kyron and this excellent link up play it looked like it would only be a matter of time before Shields scored, but a quick turn over from Ryton lead to a breakaway try. Shields immediately bounced back with a try from Connor and the game went back to ebb and flow both sides giving nothing away. Ryton had nearly double the number of lads shields had and their rotation on of fresh lads started to show as the game went on. However it literally was we score they score, they score, we score again. Our lads kept going. Injuries to both wingers and on came Sykes, Charlie, Baty and Lucas to give fresh legs. Lucas, Charlie and Baty were outstanding – punching well above their weight at the breakdown and carrying and tackling like lions. Sykes immmediately scored two fantastic tries using footwork and pace to power down the line and score. Ryton added to their total and we went into the final 10 mins with Ryton a try in front. A scrum against the head in our favour and a clever run down the blind by Dean momentarily put us on par. This must have been the final push for our exhausted lads as after this Ryton pulled ahead again and this time we couldn’t get back.

A great preseason friendly – fiercely contested by two very determined sets of lads. An outstanding display by Shields especially considering their numbers and it was the first time many of the lads had played together.

Well done lads with this form and the addition of new players on their way the seasons looking very positive.

Simon Forster