DRIVING snow combined with a blustery wind to make handling a lottery in the derby cup game on Easter Saturday.

The forwards could at least generate some degree of warmth in the close exchanges but the wing three-quarters generally had a lonely time.

Related features:
- SLIDESHOW of the big derby-day match
- All Alnwick RFC fixtures, results, reports and Durham & Northumberland, Division One table for season 2007/08.

Morpeth's well-drilled set of forwards were matched by the Alnwick pack, though their pick-up-and-drive tactics gained them valuable ground, particularly in the second half. Alnwick scored tries through Andrew Shell, Joe Poole and Richard Neil while the host club ran in tries from Cole, Harper (two), Hall, Armstrong and Scott to retain the Brett Horse and The Dave Routledge Cup.

Morpeth used both wind and snow to hammer Alnwick back into their 22 area, spinning the ball out into their three-quarters only to find that the Alnwick midfield were up sharpish to snuff out the danger.

Morpeth went ahead when they secured good ball from a penalty line-out on the Alnwick five-metre line, spun it out quickly where Harper went through for a try, goal points being added by Mather (7-0).

Alnwick came back, working the ball into their centres, but Morpeth's defenders halted the move with both sets of forwards battling hard to get possession.

A long, relieving kick by Harper pushed the ball behind the Alnwick try-line. The drop-out re-start was taken by Morpeth, driving in to set up an excellent ball for the backs.

McCreton broke but was stopped practically on the Alnwick try-line. Cole came up in support to pick up and take a stride to gain the touchdown (12-0).

The Alnwick forwards put in several driving mauls to get play into the Morpeth 22.

Andrew Shell then Michael Black made in-roads but could not break Morpeth's defensive shield.

A penalty clearance from Gaines after Thornton had been caught handling at a ruck saw Alnwick in a promising position inside the Morpeth 22.

Morpeth drove in on the Alnwick catcher for Forsythe to batter the play away. Out went the ball to the home three-quarters, where frozen fingers put the ball down.

The half finished with a powerful drive from Younger. Morpeth led 12-0 at the break.

Alnwick replaced Hugh Wrangham with Poole.

After the Alnwick forwards had overturned Morpeth possession, the ball was switched out to Shell, whose pace and swerve took him through the Morpeth cover to go over for a try (12-5).

Alnwick secured the restart ball then ran a tap-penalty using Aaron Armstrong as the pivot. He was held for a Morpeth scrum – a slow telegraphed pass from Jackson to Harper saw Poole snatch the interception to outpace the opposition to go over at the posts for a try. He also added the conversion to level the scores (12-12).

Morpeth replied quickly through a penalty line-out followed by a scrum.