After the superb win against the same opposition last week it was always going to be a challenge to see if the momentum could be maintained on away soil.

Yarm had made two significant changes to their side.  They fielded a far more experienced scrum-half who made a number of breaks in the first period that kept Castle pinned down their end. They had also put in a new outside centre which turned what had been a useful outfit the week before into a far more competitive side. As the scoreline shows there was not much in it but Yarm deserved the win scoring both the games only tries.

After the warm weather during the week, Castle arrived expecting a firm pitch but the surface was dreadful to run on, sugary soft and easily churned up although never boggy; it was really weird to play on. After twenty minutes of the game there was no score and the play had ebbed and flowed up and down the pitch without any side gaining any real advantage. Barnie had started leaking penalties though and after a kick to the corner and some intense pressure on the Castle line, the scrum-half nearly broke through between the Castle posts and when held up the ball was shipped out quickly to the winger who just squeezed over in the corner. Castle replied within minutes with a penalty slotted over by Kirk Thompson who added another from three further attempts to sneak into the lead 5-6 before the Yarm forwards managed to barge over in the corner after a catch and drive from the lineout.

At 10-6 down at the break, Castle knew they needed to drive up the middle of the park first before sending it out wide but seemed unable to muster the necessary control they had achieved the week before. Yarm were unlucky not to be awarded a further try when the referee ruled a pass as forward which was probably not but they did squeeze over a penalty soon after to extend the lead. The last quarter of the game was probably Barnie’s best and the forwards did turn the screw but were unable to turn the pressure into points and although penalty chances came late on with time running out and needing seven points to draw level, Barnie were adventurous enough to run their penalties or kick for the corner. However the Yarm defence stood firm and were worth their advantage at the end of the game.

This Saturday Castle travel to Newcastle to take on Medicals.