NORTHALLERTON first team made it thirteen out of thirteen with a dominant and comprehensive 36-0 victory at home to Stocksbridge.

The game was billed as a battle of the packs but in all honesty, the visitors had no answer to Norths better drilled forwards and also Norths clinical backs. North were also fortunate to be able call on the reliable and flamboyant veteran Douglas Mulholland, who showed glimpses of his past glories with some excellent place kicking and clearances.

North took only five minutes to break the visitors down thanks to some inventive play from Benjamin James. James came off his own wing to provide the extra man out wide and thus putting Joe Greiff into space to score in the corner. Jedd Bainbridge successfully added the conversion.

After twenty minutes North scored a typical Northallerton try from a lineout. Despite the visitors knowing North were going to catch and drive, they still could not stop the rolling maul before Simon Manthorpe touched down in the corner for another converted try.

Ten minutes before half time North added a third try after sterling work from Jonny Baker who pirouetted past two Stocksbridge players before offloading to Bainbridge who in turn released Jonny Franks for a simple try. The conversion from Bainbridge just drifting wide.

Stocksbridge came back into the game for the last five minutes of the half but never really threatened to cross the whitewash.

Half time 19-0

Stocksbridge came out for the second fired up and full of gusto to have a go at the North defence. North however stood firm with Iain Swall and Harry Laking stealing numerous ball and frustrating the visiting forwards.

Their frustration bubbled over in the 50th minute with a ten man melee erupting in midfield. From the resulting fracas the referee awarded a yellow card to Phil Swall and a yellow card apiece to two Stocksbridge players.

With the man advantage North proceeded to increase their superiority with yet another try, this time for the rampaging Joe Osleton who brushed off the oppositions attempts to stop him from ten metres out.

After sixty five minutes Osleton was again to the fore, taking a crash ball in the centres and breaking through two tacklers before sending a looping pass out wide to Ben James to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Ten minutes from time North scored a carbon copy of the second try, with a lineout catch and drive ending with Manthorpe again touching down in the corner. After three missed conversions in difficult conditions, Bainbridge added the last to make the final score 36-0.

Man of the match was awarded to equally to both Joe Osleton and Jedd Bainbridge.

Next week North travel away to Knottingley in what promises to be a very tough encounter, kick off at 2.15pm.

Northallerton second team got back to winning ways with a close 24-21 victory away at Horden and Peterlee.

Norths tries came from Giles Drew, Oller Faller-Raw and Paul James. Brian Tucker kicked three conversions and three penalties to earn the man of the match award.

Next week Northallerton seconds are at home to Middlesbrough with a 2.15pm kick off.