A dry pitch (!), and even the odd sign of a big yellow globe in the sky greeted the two sides as Stockton took on Medicals this afternoon.

Stockton had all the early play, but then conceded two penalties in quick succession which gave Meds good position, and a third penalty resulted in a kick at goal after 7 minutes and a 3-0 lead to the visitors.

Stockton began to press hard, but weren’t keeping referee Simon Williams happy as they continued to concede penalties at the ruck. The score remained the same until the 31st minute when a penalty kick to Stockton resulted in a line out on the Meds 5 metre line. A catch and drive resulted, with hooker Dan Muirhead claiming the try. Stephen Jones converted and it was Stockton 7, Medicals 3.

As halftime approached Stockton were looking for another score and it came when scrum half Rob Green made an outrageous dummy at the back of a maul and then sniped over the line from 10 metres. Jones again added the extras, and the sides went into half time with the score Stockton 14, Medicals 3.

Stockton went straight on to the attack as the second half commenced and we were only 5 minutes into the half when Stephen Jones noticed the opposition fullback was out of position and kicked deep from halfway. Jonny Horner followed up and won the race to the touchdown for an unconverted try. Stockton 19, Medicals 3.

Seven minutes later the game was as good as over as Stockton scored a bonus point try with Stephen Jones finishing off a handling move and walking over the try line under the posts and then adding the conversion. Stockton 26, Medicals 3.

Wing Joe Hargreaves was the next scorer with a very good individual effort from 30 metre, Jones again converting. Stockton 33, Meds 3.

68 minutes saw Stockton break out of defence in their own 22 and create a huge overlap on the left which allowed Jonny Horner to go 60 metres for a try, again converted by Jones. Stockton 40, Meds 3.

It was now becoming a rout and Horner scored another long range try on 72 minutes, which was not converted, but almost immediately Stockton were back on the attack with Joe Hargreaves getting his second of the afternoon, converted by Stephen Jones.

Finally on 75 minutes Jones finished a tremendous personal display with yet another converted try, to make the final score Stockton 57, Medicals 3

Not withstanding that Meds had a number of players missing, this was a tremendous display by Stockton and confirms the saying, “You can only play what’s in front of you.