ALNWICK comfortably ran out winners in this mid-table match, though at times, gifting away a number of try scoring chances that would have seen them run in a hatful of points.

A strong blustery wind was not at all helpful.

Alnwick's points came from tries by Rob Ord and Ed Shell with James Robson on target with two goals and a penalty. Consett finally got onto the score board with a breakaway converted try at the end of the match by Marshall.

Early in the game, Alnwick's pack drove through hard to pin Consett back into their 22 area. A penalty lineout play looked promising and a surging catch and drive saw power play from Darren Oliver and Richard Ellis.

Consett held out. A break back up the touchline from Andrew Shell saw him forced into touch. Alnwick won the lineout, driving forward to set the ball back for Rob Ord to break through for a touch down. James Robson added the points to put the home club into an early lead at 7-0.

The restart drop-out was returned with interest by Rob Ord whose kick through had Consett full-back Hooper struggling to kill the ball into touch.

Lineout ball was won back to set the Alnwick threequarters line away. In came Rob Howliston from full-back to create a potential overlap. The Consett defence held him up and got relief when he was penalised for not releasing the ball.

The clearance kick failed to make touch and was brought back at pace by Andrew Shell to bring the midfield centres into action.

Successive scrums gave Alnwick ball advantage. Stuart Archer picked up and broke away up a weakly defended blindside. He drew the wing to set Ed Shell away for a try with the Consett cover nowhere in sight. Again the Robson boot was on song to add the goal points. 14-0.

Consett stormed back forcing Alnwick back into their 22 area. A rare pounding from the visitors forwards was held. Two scrums on the Alnwick five-metre line saw Alnwick finally break out to the centre line. A kick through by Consett scrum-half Asprey caught Alnwick in an offside position. The penalty attempt was pushed the wrong side of the post.

The restart drop-out forced Consett back into their half. Good possession saw them sweep the ball wide across their threequarters, first out one wing, then back across to the other, where Dawkins' run was scuppered when Ed Shell hammered him into touch.

Good lineout play from the visitors worked the ball back where Home and centre Flaherty combined well before setting the ball out to Clark. His break was stopped.

Alnwick won the ruck ball back for Michael Black to clear into touch.
A period of scrappy play by both teams slowed down proceedings, dropped passes added to the problem.

Alnwick finally broke out with a crackling threequarter move up to the visitors' 22 only for the final pass out to Rob Howliston to be judged forward.

Consett were caught offside at the scrum giving Robson the easiest of goal kicks to stretch the Alnwick lead to 17-0.

Alnwick pinned Consett back with two long raking kicks from Rob Ord to run out of time with Alnwick comfortably holding onto their lead.

In the second half Alnwick replaced Rob Howliston with Charlie Grahamslaw which lead to a rearrangement of the back division.

Alnwick forced their way off a scrum, working the ball out to Michael Black whose breakaway was halted when he was tripped up.

Consett won the loose ball back out through the forwards and into their backs. A kick through was well taken by Andrew Shell who raced through to set up a midfield ruck, with Consett winning possession to clear to touch. Andrew Johnson came on, replacing Josh Burgess.

Consett were relying on following up high kicks but the Shell brothers were clearing up every attempt before bringing the ball to link up with support.

A surging drive from the home forwards took play to the Consett five metre line. A break by Archer was stopped with Alnwick taking a scrum.

A slicing break from Rob Ord was on for a try but a delayed pass saw Consett full-back Hooper intercept to clear to the visitors' 22 line.

Another change saw Harry Sordy replace an injured Robert Scott.

Alnwick continued to pressure and a penalty attempt was just on the wrong side of the post.

Consett outside-half Home put in a long drop-out ball to Andrew Shell. His run had the Consett defence in a tangle but somehow they managed to prevent a try.

Archer went close and in the scrabble for the ball Ellis was injured and had to leave the field.

In the dying minutes some wayward handling by the Alnwick threequarters
when they had an overlap with Andrew Shell joining the backs.
The loose ball was grabbed away by Consett's Marshall who ran three quarters of the pitch to score a well deserved try, goaled by Dickinson. 17-7.

This was the final burst of play which saw Alnwick come through for a win over tough opposition.

Team: R Howliston, A Shell, M Black, R Jamieson, Ed Shell, J Robson, Rob Ord, Aa Armstrong, G Hodgson, M Milburn, D Oliver, J Burgess, R Ellis, R Scott, S Archer (capt), A Johnson, H Sordy, C Grahamslaw.
Oaks Inn man of the match: Andrew Shell.