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Colts punch above their weight |
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Morpeth Colts Punch above Their WeightMorpeth Colts 5 Billingham Colts 17 Morpeth travelled to this match against table toppers Billingham with only 14 players due to several players being struck down with illness and injury, however the home side kindly agreed to lend Morpeth the required man. Morpeth started the match in the same way they had finished against Northern the previous week, with some aggressive rucking and ball carrying, however it was not long until the home side showed why they are top of the table by moving the ball quickly along the back line to touch down in the corner. Not a great start for the Northumbrians. Thankfully the home side missed the conversion, and so the score remained at 5-0.Morpeth had some fight in them, and it showed with some big runs and some strong hand offs from the ginger centre partnership of Murphy and Young. The Forwards provided the platform for the backs to play off with some strong rucking. Despite this Billingham scored a second past the visitors after a mix up of communication among Morpeth’s back thre with full back Alex Younger inexplicably passing the ball into empty space, which was pounced on by a home player, resulting in a try near the corner. Once again that kick was missed. 10-0 to Billingham.Morpeth did not crumble! They came out fighting. McNeil marshalled his back line well as giant inroads where made by the flaming haired Murphy and the slightly less ginger Young, who’s running and big hand offs terrorised the Billingham back line, it was not long until their efforts paid off, with Murphy bunny hopping into the corner with the would-be tackler wrapped around his ankles. However McNeil missed the difficult kick to take the score to 10-5.It was Morpeths game for the rest of the half, as the screaming of the Billingham coach will surely testify to.The second half was largely fought on the half way line as both sides threw themselves into the fray with a ferocity that I haven’t seen for a long time. With bodies being put on the line it was almost inevitable that tempers would start to fray, culminating in Centre Young being sent to the bin. As a result of out numbering the Morpeth defence, the home side spun the ball out from a penalty and were rewarded with the only try of the half. The kick was converted to take the score to 17-5 to the home side. The try would prove to be the last play of the game as the referee ended it after that. Despite the win, Billingham came off the pitch the unhappier side as Morpeth were perhaps the better team and were unlucky not to upset the league leaders.
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