Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club travelled to Houghton for their latest Durham and Northumberland Division 3 match buoyed up by the previous week’s victory.  On the downside though, injuries and unavailabilities meant that Aycliffe travelled with a weakened team.
The early exchanges were close between the teams, with Houghton’s backs being put under great pressure by scrum-half Warren Parsonage and flanker Drew Gibson, who pounced upon any attempt to break the gain line.  Aycliffe took the lead through a penalty by David Gibson, but Houghton soon responded in kind.  With the last play of the first half Gibson potted his second penalty and the two teams broke with Aycliffe 6 – 3 ahead.
The second half was, for the most part, much the same as the first.  David Judge was involved in most of Aycliffe’s good play, but the scrummage was a cause for concern.  With 15 minutes to go, Houghton finally scored a try, when they found a gap out wide.
There were still only 2 points in it as the game entered its final 15 minutes, but Aycliffe were now tiring and Houghton scored another try.  With the game about to end, Aycliffe, now 9 points behind, were awarded a kickable penalty which would have given them a losing bonus point, but they chose to go for the try; Houghton gained possession and scored another try with the last play of the game which gave a lob-sided look to the scoreline as again, Aycliffe faded in the closing stages.
The result leaves Aycliffe in the bottom half of the table. After a week off, Aycliffe’s next game is at home to Jarrovians on 11th October. Kick-off is 3pm. The club is sponsored by Whitehouse Funeral Service and S Cars.