Never a settled team for Coach Rolly WILLIS due to non-availability and injury we saw six changes again in the team from the previous week. In the front row Chris MORTON replaced Jon LEE and in the second row Martin WOOD had a new partner in the guise of back row forward Kris LAUDER.
In the three quarters in the absence of Rob ASQUITH the youthful Rochdale half back combo of Dan JOSEBURY and Patrick GILLAN were selected and big Steven WHITMORE coming back into the centre to join last week’s Man of the Match Conor DEAN and Dec SCOPES filling a wing berth for the injured Harry MASON. On the subs bench as front row cover saw Michael BEWLAY making his first team debut.

On a still almost ‘Spring like ‘sunny day in a fantastic stadium on a perfect flat level pitch Winlaton started the game well and in the first quarter they were able to contain the hosts in their own half.

However, they had an early setback when on 3MINS Captain Martin WOOD left the field with a chest injury from which he was unable to return and was replaced by Liam JONES.

The Vulcans began aggressively but were unable to convert a number of early opportunities into points. They attacked firstly through the forwards with FALCUS, CORNWALL and LOWES prominent who were producing good ball for JOESBURY who was sniping around the breakdown bringing his three quarters into play.

They were encamped in the Darlington 22 area and because of the pressure the home side started to concede a succession of penalties allowing Winlaton to continue their assault on the line but for all their endeavours and effort tries were still in short supply.

At last on 18MINS Darlington broke the Winlaton stranglehold and after a scrum on the half way line they started a barrage of attacks with their three quarters spreading the ball wide stretching the Vulcans defence who had to rely on HOUSTON to clear their lines with his long kicks as fortunately Darlington’s discipline continued to let them down.
However, another home side attack saw their centre break the Winlaton cover and appeared to be heading for a certain score but GILLAN showing his pace caught the attacker and made a try saving tackle just short of the line and the Vulcans cleared the danger yet again.

This pattern of play continued and on 28MINS it was Winlaton’s turn to infringe and from the kick into the corner it gave Darlington an attacking weapon and from such a ploy it resulted in a ferocious forward drive from the lineout to score a converted try in the corner (7PTS).
I
t was more of the same on 37MINS from Winlaton conceding another penalty saw an identical attack by Darlington with another lineout on the Vulcans 5 metre area but fortunately they spilled the ball and the Vulcans yet again cleared their lines holding out to the break.

HALF TIME 7PTS – 0PTS

When the game restarted Vulcans staged a second half of sustained intensity and showed their utter belief in their cause to gain a victory over Darlington who from the kick off conceded yet another penalty allowing Winlaton to kick into the red zone to set up a series of attacks on the hosts line.

On 45MINS when Winlaton started to give their three-quarters some good quick ball GILLAN was able to move the ball quickly allowing centres WHITMORE and DEAN the opportunity to run at their opposite numbers and after such a 35 metre run by WHITMORE the move broke down.

From the resultant scrum an area where Winlaton was although physically smaller had dominated through the front row on 47MINS in the Darlington 22 the scrum was won and FALCUS picked up at the base and drove forward and when halted fed CORNWALL up in support to score a classic back row try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by HOUSTON.

Winlaton started to run harder than their rivals and looked more likely to score when they got into opposition territory with WHITMORE again making another 40 metre run bursting through the cover defence.

On 52MINS it was more of the same and after LOWES won prime off the top line out ball on the half way line it was fed via JOSEBURY quickly to GILLAN through the hands to WHITMORE again who broke through tackle after tackle to score under the posts for well worked team try (5PTS) + (2PTS) with HOUSTON again converting the kick.

On 60MINS it was DEAN breaking the cover defence and numerous tackles and heading for the line but unfortunately the move was halted just short.

The last quarter of the match derteraioted as a spectacle and Winlaton lost their momentum as both sides started to lose their discipline and the regular sound of the referee’s whistle was a dominant factor but unusually Darlington’s penalty count was well into double figures well above that of Winlaton.

The last few minutes of the game saw the Vulcans containing the hosts in the their 22 and on 78MINS they finished the game with a flourish.
Again ball was won by a dominant scrum on the Darlington 10 metre line and another pickup by number 8 FALCUS who drew the defence and fed JOSEBURY up on his shoulder and unmarked to crash over for an unconverted try (5PTS).

FINAL SCORE 7PTS – 19PTS

Man of the Match Steve WHITMORE