Bishop Auckland

Bishops took on the elements as well as the opposition and emerged comfortable winners over both. Wearside provided considerably stronger and more imaginative opposition than might have been expected from a side yet to win a single league point, and the Auckland defence was tested to the full. Bishops soaked up all that Wearside had to offer and created three tries to make a mockery of the conditions.

From the outset, Bishops' tackling and driving mauls gradually forced Wearside to revert to kicking downfield. In the wind and driving rain, Mapes and Dodds struggled to make effective contact in the lineouts, but Bishop were quicker to the loose ball. Runs from Colwell, Ramrattan and Sayer were eventually rewarded when Sayer kicked a penalty.

On the stroke of half-time Bishops added to their score with a classic try. They won a scrum in midfield and Colwell moved the ball out to Sayer who ran 50 metres to score. Sayer then kicked the conversion to take Bishops ahead 10-0.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, Wearside subjected Bishop to some prolonged pressure. The Auckland forwards were a match for anything the home side could produce, and their backs were ever eager to run the ball back into Wearside territory. From yet another driving maul, Walker broke free. He drew the Wearside defence and passed to Ross who drove over for his first try for the first team.

Bishops continued to attack. They forced a 5m scrum and took the ball against the head, Bartle picking up before shrugging off the opposition to touch down. As the weather and the light rapidly deteriorated, Bishop took a firm hold on the game and ran out comfortable winners.

For the second time in two weeks Bishops' 2nd XV were denied a match as their opposition, West Hartlepool Amateurs, cancelled the fixture at lunchtime on Saturday.