On Saturday it was our last home game of the campaign against old rivals Darlington Mowden Park. They have had a very disappointing season lying bottom of the league and relegated. They had drawn with us at their ground 37-37 back in December so we were taking nothing for granted and knew that only a solid performance would do. It was also a special day for our inspirational captain Matt Riley who was making his last appearance for the Tigers after a wonderful nineteen years and a record breaking 457 games. What an amazing achievement from a great player and club man and what a role model for all young players. We started the game well playing up the slope taking the play to DMP at every opportunity but it was the visitors who scored first with an interception try after just four minutes giving them a 0-7 lead. However we hit back shortly after with a great try for that man Matt Riley after a good line break. Fly half Oli Glasse converted and we had levelled the score 7-7 with most of the half to go. Our second came following a line out in mid field when No 8. Tom Ailes broke through and fed it to scrum half Matt Sturgess who passed to flanker Lewis Bradley who ran in from 40 metres. Oli added the conversion and we were now 14-7 up playing with tempo and momentum. The third came quickly after a patient build up in the visitors twenty two. The ball was fed right to centre Nathan Pope who beat the covering defence and touched down in the top right. Again Oli converted and we were now in a commanding 21-7 lead. A penalty on the Darlington five metre line gave us a line out which the forwards caught and drove over for hooker Ben Gregory to touch down and give us the four try bonus point and a 28-7 lead. They came back with their second try after strong driving from their forwards but the Tigers were on fire and an interception by Oli was fed to No. 8 Tom Ailes who went over for a fifth converted try to further extend the lead. Then with the last play of the half the ball was quickly moved to winger Andy Riley who chipped over and collected to touch down. Oli again converted and we went into half time 42-14 up and no way back for the visitors. The second half again started well for us as we continued to pressure their defences with every passage of play and another penalty deep in their half saw the forwards drive the line out with flanker Lewis Bradley touching down ( his second ). Oli again converted and the lead was now 49-14 with all of the half to go. In fairness to the visitors they never gave up and a third try for them came after 53 minutes after a powerful drive by the forwards. However another try for our replacement hooker Tom Davis further extended our lead but they did manage to get a losing bonus point with a fourth try after a sharp line break by their scrum half. However right on the final whistle a lovely break from Ben Gregory who ran in from 50 metres saw the game end 63-24 to the Tigers and a well deserved bonus point win. What a send off for Matt in this final game where he has played with his brother Andy in a special win. Nine tries and nine conversions from Oli and wonderful all round performance from the boys. We have no game on Easter Saturday and our final game of the season is away to South London side Esher on the 26th April where we are looking to finish the campaign on a high.
Many thanks, Steve Hazz
