Yesterday the 1XV welcomed second-placed Houghton to Mackinlay Park. After three big games back-to-back, this was always going to be a tough test, but one the lads approached with real confidence.
Yesterday the 1XV welcomed second-placed Houghton to Mackinlay Park. After three big games back-to-back, this was always going to be a tough test, but one the lads approached with real confidence..

The fixture was a clash of styles. Redcar looked to impose themselves through physical carries and create opportunities for the backs, while Houghton aimed to control the game through their fly-half’s kicking and selective forward drives. Redcar slipped into old habits early on, and some missed tackles saw the visitors take a 7–0 lead inside the opening five minutes.

The hosts responded well and quickly found their rhythm. The game settled into a physical battle up front, with both packs matching each other in the set piece, while the backs looked to gain territory through kicking and attacking space. Redcar got their reward just before half-time: a well-executed catch-and-drive took the forwards to the line before returning Dom Ayre picked and went to level the scores.

Half-time: 7–7

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both sides locked in a tight contest. The next points came late in the half when Houghton were awarded a penalty in front of the posts—an opportunity they made no mistake in taking to edge ahead. Redcar had a chance to draw level soon after, but their penalty drifted narrowly wide.

Both teams created opportunities in the closing stages, but defensive efforts on both sides held firm. Houghton sealed the game late on: with Redcar in possession near the opposition 22, a strike move was called, but a cross-field kick failed to find its target and instead bounced kindly into Houghton hands, allowing them to run 80 metres to score.

It has been a tough four-week period for the lads, with every fixture physical and closely fought. To come away with nine points having faced the teams sitting second and third in the league is a huge achievement. With a two-week break ahead, attention now turns to giving the Mariners some valuable game time as they prepare to face Darlington and Wensleydale in the coming weeks.