The Raiders unbeaten run came to and end at a windswept Greensfield, but due to amount of unavailabilities due to injuries or other commitments the team were unable to travel with any replacements, a real handicap against a hard running team like Alnwick who hardly made an error throughout the game, showing impressive handling skills and great support play throughout the physical contest. However the Tynedale lads competed until the final whistle and came off having put up a spirited display with a lot of pride at the end of the game.
The home side opened the scoring on eight minutes with a converted try but Tynedale then pressurised the Alnwick line but were unable to break the well organised Alnwick defence, with Joe Hanning, James Sample and Tom McCullough going close, but when the ball was knocked on, the move ended with Alnwick winning the scrum to enable them to clear the danger.
The hard work put into the attacking move had tired the Tynedale forwards and, with the strong wind behind them Alnwick were able to play an attacking game, Tynedale were forced to play a defensive game and despite some great work from Jacob Brown, Dan Lowden and Rob Earnshaw in defence breaking down the wave of Alnwick attacks the home side did eventually score a converted try in the 22nd minute.
The home side continued to play open rugby and Rory Dixon, Matty Williams, Seb Jansen, Liam Pitt, Donald Stembrige and Jack Outsen were forced to make numerous tackles to thwart the Alnwick backline but the pressure told when the hosts scored a further two converted tries to give them a 28 - 0 lead at half time.
After the break, Tynedale were able to play in the Alnwick half and the front row of Owen Loughead, Dan Lowden and captain Ed Craney were winning decent ball in the scrum, however Alnwick won turnover ball at a ruck and broke into the Raiders half and finished off a great move to score a converted try.
The Raiders came back at the home side after the restart and young fly half Thomas Beatty was able to use possession to give Tynedale territorial advantage, and from a line out the Raiders drove at the Alnwick line and despite McCullough, Hanning and Lowden all nearly crossing, the home defence held firm and cleared the danger.
However, Tynedale were back in the contest when a penalty was awarded on the left hand side and Hanning was fed by scrum half Williams and after nearly breaking through the Alnwick defence, McCullough was held up from the next drive before Rob Earnshaw picked the ball from the floor to touch down, Beatty converted.
With the wind strength dropping the Tynedale options of playing in the Alnwick half were limited and indeed Alnwick broke strongly to score the next try and effectively secure the win. However, Tynedale continued to win decent possession and a great backline move from Dixon, Outsen and Jansen resulted in Stembridge racing over for a well worked try.
There was still time for Alnwick to score a further try against a weary Tynedale defence to close out the game for a deserved victory but the Tynedale players came off the field knowing they had given their best for the team against a well drilled home side and with no replacements available had all battled hard for the entire game.