Tynedale Colts sponsored by Arnold Clark played their 1st Border League game of the new season on Saturday away at Jedburgh. With a nee new season comes some fresh faces and no fewer than 10 of the squad were in league action for the first time.
The game started with Tyne playing up the hill into a brisk wind and after the early skirmishes they settled down to play some good rugby. Graham Robson and Sam White in particular winning good ball and setting a platform for the backs where half-backs Matt Williams and Rory Dixon controlled things all afternoon. When the ball was moved wide Callum Young showed pace and almost got away on 3 occasions only lacking support when stopped by the Jed full-back.
The inexperience showed in the final 3rd of the pitch as 4 times after the Colts had got into a good attacking position a penalty was given away and the Jedburgh number 10 booted the ball back into Tynedale territory. With the first half drawing to an end Jed swarmed all over one of these kicks and managed to squeeze over the Colts try line to go into the break 5-0 up.
In the second half Tynedale went all out to get on the score sheet but Jedburgh were defending well. It took probably Tynedale's best passage of play after 10 minutes to break the line, after good tight work by the forwards Chris Harvey and Brogan Millar the ball was moved out wide and when it was won again Peter Elliott found some space and was only stopped 5 metres out he managed to pop the ball up to the supporting Dave Batey who crashed over to level the scores.
Tynedale spent the last 15 minutes defending with Dave Watchorn putting in some great tackles and coming up with the ball on numerous occasions. Jed had 3 penalty kicks at goal hitting the bar and post and were almost over the line when the rebound from the post landed in an attackers hand 10 metres out, but Matt wiped him out with a try saving tackle and Dave stole the ball again allowing Tyne to clear their lines again.
A draw was probably a fair result and considering the low score it was an open and exciting game to watch.