Mowden Park Under-15s' match against Houghton turned into an eventful day to say the least. Houghton went into the lead after around 15 minutes when a failed tackle allowed them to score on the wing.

They were unable to convert. Houghton then had a player sin-binned for a stamping offence a few minutes later, and a second for kicking a few minutes before half time.

Mowden's James Wattmore, who has just returned from injury, made use of the two-man advantage and broke through to score directly beneath the posts. Steven King made easy work of the conversion just before the half time whistle leaving the score at 5-7 to Mowden.

The second half saw some good runs by Mathew Gee and Simon Apps but hesitation to pass the ball and Houghton's defence left them bundled into touch. With their team back to full strength Houghton scored a further two tries in the second half, mainly because of failed tackles, but they were unable to convert either.

The Under-17s also took on Houghton, a fixture that always produce close fought matches, and this was to prove no exception. A cold driving rain meant that it took some 20 minutes of hard graft for either side to make any gains, and then Houghton's opening penalty goal was neutralised just two minutes later by Mowden's first try. From loose ball in the centre of the field, John Lewis stole the ball from a maul, Chris Dodd took it on, and Richard Littlefair worked it out to Adam Hunt, who ran forty-five metres to score. Jason Todd converted. Five minutes later, Houghton took advantage of a line out on the five metre line to set and develop a good driving maul to score in the corner. At half time then, Houghton led 10-7.

The second half renewed the battle for dominance, with Mowden gaining the first advantage. Houghton were caught offside from the kick-off, and the rather ambitious attempt on goal went just wide. However, the 22m. dropout, was well taken and the ball passed along the line to Chris Dodd, who committed the tackler, allowing Jason Elliot to slip in in the corner. Six minutes on, and Houghton used their strength in set pieces to good advantage when they took control of a 5-metre scrum and the scrum-half scored under the posts, to open a 5 point advantage for Houghton. Another 5 minutes, and fly-half Jason Todd chipped a ball through, and the perfect bounce allowed him to gather and score under the posts again - his conversion of his own try returned the lead to Mowden Park. Ten minutes later, scrum half Keith Dodds broke clear from a maul and made good ground before the ball went loose, and Chris Dodd was able to control it and make off on one of his trademark 60-metre charges to the posts. Despite a fine day with the boot, Jason Todd missed the conversion, which allowed Houghton back into the picture when their next try was converted to tie the scores at 24 each with injury time to go. In a final effort, the Mowden Park forwards were able to turn over ball inside the Houghton 22m line, and Jason Todd could feed Jason Elliot to see him over under the posts. Full-back Elliot drop-kicked his own conversion, and the final whistle sounded. Mowden Park had won by three goals and two tries to three goals and a penalty goal.