Lions began well enough, driving the visitors back from the kick off and forcing them to play in their own half. It was not long however before the home team’s frailties showed when the backs lost the ball on Tynedale’s 22. The ball was quickly shipped left by the visitors and with them outnumbering Lion’s defenders five to two, winger Jamie Harrison ran in for a simple try, converted by Will Massey.

Rugby’s pack was a match for Tynedale’s but the first up tackling was very poor allowing the visitors to make good yardage. James Hawken did reduce the deficit with two penalties although these were effectively cancelled out with two from Will Massey. After struggling for some time with what looked to be a hamstring injury, Wilf Barclay was replaced by Alex Nash. Good pressure from the Lions almost led to a try in the left corner but the ball was just held up.

Tynedale’s blanket defence on the very edge of the offside line was proving very effective with the home backs struggling to make any in-roads, and their support play also led to the illusion of them having greater numbers on the pitch. After missing a couple of penalty attempts, James Hawken ended the first half with a successful kick to reduce the deficit to just four points.

Rugby started the second half well with a couple of strong runs from Dom Wareing leading to a series of pick and drives in the shadow of the visitors posts. The referee finally penalised Tynedale’s backs for offside and Hawken slotted the penalty from in front of the posts.

Tynedale responded well and following a scrum, their impressive number eight picked up and fed the scrum half for a simple try in the right corner. Massey this time missed the conversion.

The visitors continued to look the better side and on 56 minutes a break by their center through a gaping hole in Lion’s defence led to a try for Will Massey again in the right corner. The conversion attempt by the try scorer was pulled wide.

Lions then made a number of changes including Tommy Turner replacing Andy Regan with Glackin switching to center and Glenn Bond coming on as fullback and Hawken moving to wing. Dave Jackson also made a welcome first appearance of the season at scrum half and looked very lively. Rugby then put in a sustained effort, throwing the ball around in an attempt to score a try but Tynedale maintained their defence well to hold them out for a well deserved victory. The fact that this was the first game this season that Rugby have failed to register a try is testament to the northerners organisation and resolve and along with Blaydon are the best team that Rugby have faced so far this season.