Bishop Auckland Under 18s, playing their last ever game together, finally lifted the Durham County Plate after a terrific team performance at Houghton.
The players stepped onto the field full of resolve, having fallen at this final hurdle before.
Durham made the first forays upfield, but booming clearance kicks from Tyler Claydon twice cleared the danger. Gradually Bishop gained the upper hand and a penalty kick from Ollie Gray gave them a narrow lead. Playing to their strengths, Durham’s forwards began to turn the screw and they powered over for a try after 10 minutes. The next few minutes followed a similar pattern, with Durham’s strength pitted against Bishop’s speed.
It was Durham though who scored next, after their centre cut inside on a good attacking line that eluded a number of defenders. The conversion gave them a 12 – 3 lead which was to remain the score until the break.
Bishop attacked again and, from a scrum, Sam McIvor fed the ball quickly wide. Rhys Jary passed it on to Hamilton, who found his path blocked by two defenders. Nonchalantly he passed the ball between his legs to Leon Keirl, whose looping run saw him perfectly placed to run in for the try. Gray kicked the conversion to narrow the gap to two points.
Soon afterwards, Bishop were awarded a penalty and Gray had the confidence to attempt a kick at goal from 40 metres out; the kick just crept over the bar and Bishop were now in the lead by a point. Durham were stung by this and launched numerous attacks. Bishop’s defence held firm with excellent tackling.
Connor Witton and Chris Cruddace both came on in the forwards and were instantly at home in the pressurised situation. Durham had a penalty kick at goal, but it went narrowly wide.
As another Durham attack threatened the Bishop line, Jassy Dhillon made a timely interception and set off up the field. He was not quick enough to outstrip the defence, but Keirl was on hand and he sped away from the halfway line to score under the posts. With Bishop now 6 points ahead, the conversion was crucial, but Durham City were alert enough to charge it down to leave them within a converted try.
Nathaniel Walton and Seb Hole now came on the field at prop and scrum half respectively as Bishop prepared to batten down the hatches again. City were now desperately close to a score as a clearance kick was charged down, but the chasing player knocked the ball on over the try line. The Bishop defending was excellent with everybody laying their bodies on the line for the cause.
The full time whistle brought wild celebrations as Bishop finally had some silverware to show for their efforts; the final score of 18 – 12 showing just how close the game had been.
This superb match, which was played in fine spirit by both sides, kept a large crowd engrossed from start to finish, and Durham City were typically magnanimous in defeat.
Having reached the heights in their last game, the squad will now disband, with some players staying in the colts for another year, whilst the others will graduate to the senior teams or leave for college or the forces.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
