On Saturday we were away to Darlington Mowden Park looking to build on the good performances of the past two weeks. They like ourselves have not had a great first half of the season and were currently at the bottom of the league. However they had put in some good performances against some of the top teams in the last few weeks so we knew that this would be a difficult challenge against a team who were fighting for survival. Conditions in the very impressive Darlington Arena were excellent with a firm dry pitch and little or no wind. We had a number of key players back from injury and unavailability and former Scarlets flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow was making his Tigers debut. We started well playing good controlled rugby in the Darlington half and were awarded a penalty after 3 minutes which fly half Warren Seales converted. They hit back with a penalty of their own two minutes later to even the score 3-3 but a great passage of play linking forwards and backs deep within the home teams twenty two saw winger Bertie Bradshaw touch down under the posts for the first try of the game. Warren converted and we were 10-3 up within the first ten minutes. They got another penalty shortly after to reduce the lead to 10-6 but we were playing some excellent rugby in this first twenty minute period and another patient build up going through phase after phase resulted in centre Nathan Pope crash over to give us our second try. Warren once again converted and we went into a 17-6 lead with twenty minutes of the half to go. However Darlington to their credit put pressure on our defences whenever they had possession and a penalty deep within our twenty two gave them a line out which their powerful forwards drove over to give them their first converted try and reduce the lead to 17-13. Another penalty four minutes later saw them again drive over our line and take the lead 17-20 going into half time. This was frustrating for us because we had played excellent rugby for the majority of the half and probably had the chance to score at least two more tries but mistakes and silly penalties denied this. We were confident that we could go on and build a winning score in the second period and straight from the start fly half Charlie Wardle from fifty metres out chipped through collected his kick and drew two defenders before passing to scrum half Matt Sturgess who touched down for a wonder try. Once again Warren converted and we were now back in the lead 24-20. Another penalty from Warren eight minutes later further extended our lead but once again we let them back in the game after indiscipline gave them possession in our twenty two which their forwards drove over for their third try and level the scores 27-27 after fifty minutes. However we got another penalty three minutes later which Warren converted and we were back in the lead 30-27 with twenty minutes to go. We continued to look to play in their twenty two and a patient build up going through phase after phase saw flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow dive over for his first debut try and our fourth and bonus point. We now had a commanding 37-27 lead and looking to secure the win. However this was not to be as penalty after penalty gave Darlington territory and possession in our twenty two from which they scored another try and a penalty. The game ended in a disappointing 37-37 draw with honours even and three points for each team. We knew that this was a game that we could have and should have won but giving away so many penalties did not help. The effort and commitment of the players cannot be questioned and special mention to full back Warren Seales who kicked seventeen points. Next Saturday we are at home to local rivals Sale FC in one of the biggest games of the season. This should be a great game of rugby so please come down and support your Tigers team.
Thanks, Steve Hazz.
