Our first away game takes Middlesbrough RUFC over to Upper Eden RUFC in Kirkby Stephen for the next fixture in Regional 2 NorthBoro kick off and the game goes quickly to a ferocious pace with both sides moving the ball well. 5 minutes in and Boro attack through multiple phases but stout defence from the home side repel them at every turn8 minutes and a superb period of play from the visitors ends with them spilling the ball over the line, still 0-017 minutes and skipper Jack Mac scores out wide after many phases of play, the con is missed 0-5UE’s turn to attack now and Boro are defending heroically, this enables them to steal the ball and Sean Moloney, in his 101st game for the club, runs 60m to get us back on the front footOn 25 minutes UE attack and only heroic defence from Matthew Marsay keeps them at bay, in the subsequent exchanges Boro recover the ball and Jack Mac kicks through for lock Finlay Magowan to kick on and score, Brendan Hill kicks the extras 0-12The next score is a penalty kicked by UE 3-12Despite more entertaining rugby from both teams the Half Time score is UE 3 Boro 125 minutes into the second stanza UE score a try, well deserved after their dominance to end the 1st half and start the 2nd . 8-12The half is a nip and tuck affair as both sides looking dangerous in attack and stoic in defence.With a few minutes left on the clock UE move the ball well and score a converted try giving them their first lead of the afternoon 15-12From the resulting kick off Boro attack with great effort, wave after wave is repulsed by UE, Boro eventually knock on and the home team win the scrum and kick the ball outThe referee calls no side and the final result is Upper Eden RUFC 15 Middlesbrough RUFC 12Next week we have the rearranged home fixture against local rivals Stockton at Parc du Acklam KO 2pm
Thanks to Phil Tilson for this report
