NORTHALLERTON RUFC first team travelled to promotion chasing Hullensians and gave the third-placed team a tough game.

North matched the home team for long periods of the game, but failed to take the occasional chances they had.

The home team took the lead midway into the first half with a well worked backs' try that was finished off with a three-man overlap out wide. The conversion from near the touchline hit the post before going over for the extra points.

Hullensians seemed confident of adding to the score and began throwing the ball out to their wingers at every opportunity. However, they had underestimated North's defensive capabilities as they were constantly thwarted at every attempt.

With North's forwards becoming more dominant as the game went on, a try for North began to look more likely than another Hull score,but a couple of dropped balls and some wrong decisions, cost North dear as they failed to make the breakthrough.

North were still in the game right up to the last minute when they spurned a penalty opportunity for the chance of a catch and drive lineout move that unfortunately Hullensians dealt with before clearing their lines.

Final score 7-0. North's man of the match was awarded to scrum half Jack Tart.

One point of note from the game was the return of veteran prop Paul Dixon, who suffered a ruptured patella tendon, torn quadricep and broken bone in his kneecap last summer in pre-season training. Such an injury could have proven career ending to some, but the 55-year-old made his return to the game 15 minutes from time to test his knee out. Thankfully there was no repercussions and Dixon is available again next week, when the first team are at home to local rivals Wensleydale, with a 3pm kick off.

Also over the weekend, Northallerton under 13s travelled away to Hornsea and returned with a 7-7 draw.

The match itself was a highly entertaining game of rugby with good levels of skill displayed by both teams in an evenly matched encounter.