Ryton kicked off with the wind at their back and scored a penalty after only 4 mins, 3 – 0, they played some slick and skilful rugby and easily looked like the strongest team Redcar had faced this season, it wasn’t long (about another 2 mins) before they kicked a second penalty, 6 – 0. Their backs cut through the Redcar defence, like a knife through butter and scored a try under the posts which was converted 13 – 0. Redcar’s captain Phil Dyball was given a yellow card for pulling down a driving maul, he could hardly be blamed, as the Redcar pack was being driven back at an alarming rate of knots. Ryton continued to dominate in all aspects of play and when they scored another converted try, (20 – 0), the Redcar few, (the travelling supporters) feared a cricket score was coming.

Redcar finally got their act together and won some ball, to give the backs a run, they showed how dangerous they could be and from a weaving run, James (Pikey) Allison scored a good try, which was converted by Danny Addison, 20 – 7. As half time approached Ryton once again got a favourable decision from the ref, who had missed several of their forward passes but this time he penalised Redcar in front of the posts and Ryton went into the break 23 – 7.

Half Time Ryton 23 Redcar 7.

Redcar kicked off the second half and seemed a different team they immediately took the game to Ryton and camped in the Ryton 22, Pikey almost scored in the corner but was just forced into touch, the ball was spun back and forth and when Ryton regained the ball and tried to run it into the Redcar half it was intercepted by the ever alert centre, Brad Stovell who scored under the posts, converted by Danny Addison, 23 – 14. The Ryton forwards got a bit niggly and their prop forward No.1 got a yellow card for punching and Danny Addison put over a great kick from wide out to make the score 23 – 17.

The Ryton fly half then missed an easy kick, the Ryton prop then returned to the field and their No. 6 took his place in the sin bin, this did not help Ryton’s cause and only went on to spur Redcar into further action. The Redcar forwards drove towards the Ryton line and after several attempts to cross it Ryton finally buckled and Redcar’s player coach Neil Young scored under the posts, in those few seconds he went from zero to hero, this was converted by Danny Addison, 23 – 24.

As the game drew to a close, came the final twist, or so we all thought, the ball was kicked through and a big Ryton forward, on his own claimed it, he was tackled by two Redcar players but held on, on the floor and the ref for some reason ruled that the Redcar players had gone over the top but they were still on their feet when he blew the whistle, from the penalty Ryton got into the Redcar 22 and once again the ref blew for an easy penalty kick, 26 – 24. That’s it we all thought, but there was still time to kick off, Redcar gathered the ball and moved it towards half way, then low and behold the ref gave Redcar a penalty and up stepped Danny Addison once more and slotted the ball between the posts, the cries of delight from both players and supporters of Redcar could have been heard in Gateshead I’m sure and the jubilation when the final whistle blew seconds later.

Final Score Ryton 26 Redcar 27