NORTHALLERTON first team finally ended their losing streak of six straight losses from six, with a comprehensive but hard fought 38-12 home win over Thornensians.

Straight from the off, North forced Thorne back into their own 22 looking for the early try. After six minutes and three lineouts, Kriss Morrison touched down after a rolling maul. Ollie Watkins added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Less than five minutes later, Iain Swall peeled off the back of a scrum from 20 metres out to run over the line virtually unopposed in the corner. The conversion from Watkins was just wide.

Just after the half hour mark, Zander Metcalfe intercepted a wayward Thorne pass on the halfway line and out-sprinted the covering defenders to touch down under the posts. Ashley Rio took over kicking duties for the straight forward conversion and a 19-0 lead.

With half time beckoning, excellent handling along all of North's back from right to left ended with Matthew Marsay cutting through for a try which again was converted by Rio.

From the restart Thorne exerted a bit of pressure on North's line and despite some terrific defending, the visitors were eventually awarded a penalty try with ten minutes of first half injury time played. To confound the situation North's Sandy Gray was also yellow carded for coming in at the side of a ruck. Half time 26-7.

Despite being down to 14 men, North again started the half in full flow and pushed Thorne back onto their own try line. From the ensuing pressure Matt Argo managed to just touch down on the line but the referee was unsighted so he could not award the try. However, two minutes later Ryan Lech went over for his first try for North, with Rio converting.

Just after the hour mark Rio executed a pinpoint cross field kick from right to left which was collected one handed by Ben Pilling to score an unconverted try in the corner.

For the last five minutes of the game Thorne gave it one final push for a try and were rewarded with a scrambled score in the corner. Final score 38-12. North's man of the match was hooker George Updale.

Next week North are away to Yarnbury who drew with North at home 21-21 earlier this season.

Northallerton second team travelled to Sedgefield with a bare 15 players, or so they thought – one turned up late having got lost and thinking it was a 3pm kick off.

Despite being down to 14 men for the first half, North still dominated the game and ran in five tries all converted by James Hopkin. The tries came from Tom Peacock (two), Conor Richmond and two more from the two Fiji guest players.

North returned to 15 men for the second half but the game was much closer. North ran in another four tries from Richmond, Hopkin and two more from team Fiji. Hopkin added two out of the four conversions. Sedgefield played the game in good spirits throughout and were rewarded with a consolation try of their own. Final score 59-5. Man of the match was Richmond.

Next week North seconds are scheduled to play Stocktonians away but are awaiting confirmation.

Northallerton ladies rounded off the perfect weekend for the club with a 26-19 win at home to Yarm ladies on Sunday.

Unfortunately the game had to be ended 15 minutes early due to a injury to a Yarm player. All at North wish her a speedy recovery.

The match itself was a thoroughly entertaining encounter with both teams putting in 100 per cent effort. The lead changed hands a number of times before the final whistle with neither team being overly dominant. North's tries came from Emily Byfield and three from Ali O’Brien, who successfully kicked three out of four conversions.

It was the first game for Anna Ridings and Emily Richmond, and they both thoroughly enjoyed it. This game also also marked Jamie Chapman's first game in three years and she looked like she had never been away.

The player of the match award was shared between O’Brien, Abby Robinson for ferocious tackling and Natalie Gardener for quick decision making and link up play.