These well-matched sides produced an enthralling contest with the result in the balance until the final whistle. Both teams ran the ball at every opportunity through forwards and backs as the game swung from end to end.

After full back Callum Young, centre Jake Scott and winger Seb Jansen had made speedy breaks, they were all collared by the vigilant visitors, whilst Jacob Brown, Ed Craney and James Sample prevented scores when the opposition threatened. However, a concerted drive by their well-drilled pack saw the burly prop forward from Alnwick cross from close range after 20 minutes.

Tynedale responded strongly with promising debutants Sam Richardson at scrum half and Darwin Currie in the centre making progress to threaten. A clearance kick to relieve the Tynedale pressure was gathered well by Micky Hall in his own half. The number 8 made good ground and produced nice ball when held. Forwards Joe Hanning and Ben Robson then smashed upfield, fed the ball to speedy winger James Ferguson who floated around the remaining defenders for an equalising try.

Chances came and went for both sides but the scores remained 5 - 5 at the break.

The same pattern continued but, as the second half progressed, the Alnwick forwards gradually began to get the upper hand as the earlier cohesion of the home side was disrupted by the introduction of eight replacements. Everyone on the field defended manfully as Alnwick turned the screw with Robson putting in some spectacular tackles, Cam Grant and Thomas Beatty kicking beautifully to gain field position, the props Owen Loughead and Owen Shield containing their tough opponents.

The pressure led to a penalty 5 metres out and the confident visitors opted for the scrum hoping for a push over try. The scrum held under extreme pressure but the excellent number 8 picked up and put Alnwick ahead from close range with a converted try with 15 minutes remaining.

This sparked a period of home dominance as Dicky Dunn, Lewis Sparke, Rob Earnshaw and David O'Neill drove strongly into the 22-metre area. Joe Henry and Donald Stembridge followed up with decent breaks in the backs but the Alnwick defence smothered any chance of recycling and the creation of real scoring chances. Indeed, they were able to break up field, win a penalty, from which they took the three points to take the game beyond Tynedale with only a few minutes remaining.

Whilst Alnwick probably deserved the win, the efforts put in by a young inexperienced Raiders team were commendable and augur well for the future.