THE boys from Barnie are bouncing back - and in some style.

After six fixtures they have shot to top spot in Division Three of the Durham and Northumberland League, scoring 170 points on the way.

The Barnard Castle club's aim this season is to win promotion to Division Two - and then move up among the big boys in Division One.

But 15 years ago Barnard Castle were just a side playing out of a local pub, who were going nowhere. Then Welshman Eddie Jenkins arrived on the scene. Through his inspired leadership and his captaincy for ten years, the club picked itself up from being at the bottom of the pile to become a professional outfit.

Eddie, who still turns out for the second team, retired as captain last season, but Barnard Castle were determined not to let themselves slip back into the doldrums.

New captain William Hutchinson, who has led a strong contingent of players from Weardale to the club, said: "We owe it to Eddie to see that we build on what he managed to achieve during his inspired time with the team.

"We have the potential to progress further up the league to Division One. We are aiming to carry on where Eddie left off."

William, a former Barnard Castle School pupil who now helps run the family farm at Eastgate, has notched up 80 points as fly-half this season. In last Saturday's 50-0 victory over Durham Constabulary he scored 28 points, including three tries.

Other Weardale players who have joined the club include Andrew Richardson and Robert Elwood, from Stanhope, and Mark Watson, from Wolsingham.

Barnard Castle have also appointed player-coach John Hutchinson to strengthen their ranks. John, a No 8 forward, played for Mowden Park for eight years.

He sees promotion to Division Two as "yet another step along the road to success for the club."

But he is more realistic about reaching Division One.

"Its's not out of our reach, but there's a long way to go yet."