Rugby Lions almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in this incredible 9-try thriller, conceding 26 points in an amazing spell of 13 minutes at the start of the second half.

Lion’s started brightly and took the lead after 4 minutes with a penalty from James Hawken after Pete Glackin had hit the post with a drop goal attempt. The visitors responded well and took the lead with two penalties from Jon Benson. The home pack then began to get the upper hand and put Park under some pressure. Park were penalised for illegally halting a rolling maul 15 metres from their try line. Hawken spurned the chance of three points, and put the ball into touch on the five-metre line. This proved to be the correct option as Rugby’s pack drove over the try-line with Prosser-Shaw claiming the touchdown. The conversion attempt was pushed wide of the posts.

The visitors were being forced to defend for all their worth and it was no surprise when Prosser-Shaw peeled off a maul to bag his second try on 21 minutes. The try was again unconverted to give the home side a 13-6 lead. A lineout on Rugby’s left was won and the ball was spun out all the way through the backs to the other side of the pitch. Although the move was halted, the ball was recycled and this time moved to the left. Ade Hales took the ball and sped through a gap in typical fashion. He could probably have scored the try himself in the corner, but drew the last defender and lobbed the ball inside to Shaun Brady for a well-worked try. This time Hawken made the conversion for a 20-6 lead. Soon after, Hales popped up in the centre to take a long pass from Glackin and Rugby had secured a rare 4-try bonus point with over half the game left to play. Hawken struck the upright with the conversion attempt.

Rugby conceded three penalties in quick succession at the start of the second half, and following a series of pick and drives, McNichols dived over to score the visitor’s first try. Straight from the restart, Lion’s normal stout defence disintegrated and poor tackling allowed McNichols to crash over for his second try. Rugby could not get hold of the ball, and Park stunned the home crowd when winger James Clarke was allowed a clear run to the line for yet another try. Worse was to follow, when a loose pass from Glackin was intercepted to give an easy run through for centre Charlie Raynor. Three of these tries were converted to amazingly give the visitors the lead at 25-32. Park had scored four tries and 26 points in a stunning 13 minute spell to turn the game on its head. Lion’s players must have been almost as stunned as the crowd, but to their credit, they regrouped and came back strongly. A sustained period of pressure by the pack in front of the clubhouse paid dividends, and more good backs play led to James Hawken scoring in the left corner. Matt Goode took exception to the tackler’s treatment of the try scorer and was shown a yellow card for his retaliation. Hawken scuffed the conversion, but Lion’s were now back within two points as the game entered the last quarter. Play was open at this stage and the game was there for the taking by either side.

Park infringed again at a ruck, and Hawken strolled up for a shot at goal. Although not on great form with the boot, he struck it sweetly from 35 metres and the ball sailed through the posts to give the home side the slenderest of leads. With time nearly up, Rugby were penalised and Jon Benson had a relatively simple kick from 25 metres in front of the posts to win the game for the visitors. A penalty he would make nine times out of ten was unexpectedly hooked to the left of the posts and Park had to make the return journey north with just two points, instead of five.

For the first two of the Lions recent seasons in National 3, 2004/05 and 2006/07, there were two Darlingtons to be played, but with the relegation of the older town club at the end of last season things have now become less confusing. It does help when a club is identifiable as being attached to a well-known place. Darlington MP’s more illustrious neighbours, farther up the Great North road, Newcastle Falcons, used to be just plain Gosforth until it became Newcastle Gosforth and then, with the creation of the professional Premier League the name Gosforth disappeared to be replaced by Falcons.

Our two clubs played each other for the first time in 2004 and this coming Saturday’s encounter will be the fifth. Of the four already played, Rugby have won both games played at Webb Ellis Road, but they have lost one and drawn one at Yiewsley Drive. Last season’s game at Webb Ellis Road, the season’s opener was won by 36-0, but the other three games have been much more closely contested, culminating in last season’s 24-24 drawn ‘endgame’.