After our long trip to Keswick last week we return to Parc du Acklam for a game against fellow 150thAnniversary club Durham City
In glorious conditions the match gets under way with both sides having their attacks repelled by good, stout defending. Middlesbrough come closest to opening the scoring when they earn a penalty about 10 metres out. NZ import scrum half Jake Chalklen takes a quick tap and passes to wing Matthew Marsay who scores in the corner and the crowd goes wild. But, no, alas the try is disallowed due to a forward pass the game remaining deadlocked at 0-0
Durham clear their lines but in the next few phases of play give away 6 consecutive penalties which culminate in one of them receiving a yellow card and from the resulting line out and driving maul Boro score through Josh “Lyno the Rhino” Lynas Returning fly half Andrew Baggett slots the conversion 7-0
Strong running by the away team sees them build momentum and kick a penalty 7-3 almost immediately Boro reply through a Andrew Baggett penalty 10-3
Durham attack again scoring an unconverted try 10-8
The scoring is completed when Durham kick a penalty from 40 metres 10-11
Try as they might the Boro could not break down the stubborn Durham defence and the final score remained Middlesbrough RUFC 10 Durham City 11

Jabba