Barnard Castle 1st XV Match Report
Barnard Castle 1st XV Match Report
Prudhoe 27 Barnard Castle 36
Saturday, 13 November 2010
It was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show last Saturday. Following the trouncing of Hartlepool in their last league game where Barnie oozed class and cohesion throughout, this was much scrappier affair even though they won comfortably enough against opposition down at the other end of the table.
Playing downhill with the sun at their backs in the first half against a student based side, after early skirmishes it was Craig Dominick who opened the scoring breaking tackles and hurtling down the wing. Castle dominated the first half territorially without ever looking completely on top of their hosts. Lock forward Adam Haynes and hooker Ronnie Maughan both got on the scoresheet to keep the backs in their place; Haynesy picking up at the back of loose play close to the Prudhoe line and driving over while Ronnie’s score came from excellent support play down the wing, on hand to take the pass out of the tackle and scamper the remaining yards to the line. Craig Dominick also scored a second try in trademark fashion.
Seemingly comfortably enough ahead at the break 24-10, Castle let Prudhoe seize the initiative early on in the second half, slack Barnie tackling allowing a centre to waltz through straight after the restart to close to within a score. As the third quarter of the game was played out the sense of anxiety in the Castle ranks was tangible and the play was littered with knock-ons as Castle tried to up the tempo. There were flashes of the class though and these led to further scores for fullback Steve McCracken taking a nice pass out of the tackle from Dominick before Craig confirmed his hat-trick in ebullient style as the play moved into the final quarter. Prudhoe scored at the close to flatter the scoreline a touch but this was perhaps the wake-up call Barnie need for next week.
A noteworthy debut came in the second half for young forward Ross Lindsey who has improved immensely since the start of the season and looks to have a great future as part of the first team squad.
Next week with Castle now 3rd in the table, they entertain Seaton Carew on the Demesnes. A slicker performance will be expected. With no training this Tuesday it is crucial that Thursday’s session is well attended by all.