The Rugby Academy began their season on a bright and blustery afternoon against an opposition who had provided a good test for us last season.

The Rugby Academy began their season on a bright and blustery afternoon against an opposition who had provided a good test for us last season.

Darlington kicked off and a good catch and drive by the Macmillan forwards allowed them to advance the ball deep into the oppositions half. However this passage of play ended as the ball was knocked forward resulting in a scrum to Darlington. Hooker Jack Harrison, making his Rugby Academy debut, took the ball against the head and the ball was passed out to Ben Dickinson who dummied two players and sprinted through a gap to score the first try of the game.

Having scored so early in the game, Macmillan eased off the gas resulting in lots of Darlington pressure. Darlington's fly half was running the show and excellent passing from the opposition allowed them to score a try under the posts which was subsequently converted.

This came as quite a body blow to Macmillan and with Darlington growing in confidence, Macmillan were soon on the back foot once again. Darlington's forwards were getting the better of Macmillan's and this was allowing their backs fast ball to create attacking moves. Macmillan defended sternly but after several phases of play Macmillan ran out of numbers in defence allowing Darlington to cross the line for a converted try.

Once again from the restart Macmillan were placed under a huge amount of pressure and things were looking bleak for the academy. However dogged and determined defence managed to keep Darlington at bay and just on the stroke of half time a turn over resulted in Macmillan gaining possession and the ball was spun wide for Josh Clough to touch down.

Half Time: Darlington Q.E - 14 - 10 - Macmillan Academy

After a stern team talk Macmillan Academy came out for the second half with a much more determined and committed approach, looking much more like the team that had trained so well prior to the game. The Macmillan Forwards now had the bit between their teeth and dominated for the rest of the game. This created an excellent platform for the boys to play with flair and control with the try of the match coming from Tom Clarke who hit an excellent line to receive a perfect pass from Ben Dickinson. Ben Dickinson was successful with the conversion.

Man of the match Shaun Warriner, who had worked his socks off throughout the gamegot his just deserts when he picked up from a scrum 5 metres out and bundled two players out of the way to score a good try.

Moments later Josh Strafford another debutant managed to rip the ball of his opposite number and scamper 40 metres to score a try under the posts which Ben Dickinson converted.

As the game drew to a conclusion Macmillan were getting stronger and stronger and with lack of discipline costing Darlington dearly, powerful runs from Grant Honzick and Chris Nicholson gained valuable territory for the away team. This eventually paid dividends when Chris Nicholson went burrowing through a gap to score Macmillan's 6th try of the game. Ben Dickinson sealed off an excellent 2nd half performance with a successful conversion.

Half Time: Darlington Q.E - 14 - 36 - Macmillan Academy