The Centurions began their league campaign with an emphatic win against a strong Durham side who made them work hard in the glorious Corbridge late summer sunshine.
The visitors took an early lead with their pacy backline linking well to open the scoring with a converted try. The Centurions responded with Micky Hall replying with a try which went unconverted. A strong run by Rhys Loughead led to the number eight crossing the line for the try which Ewan Morel converted to put Tynedale in front.A clever grubber kick by Craig Johnston was collected by the sharp running centre Callum Morrell who collected well but was adjudged to have been offside and the try was ruled off, to deny what would have been a great piece of opportunist skill and vision.
The visiting side then responded with a converted try, again their lively backs caused the home side problems and a couple of missed tackles allowed their fly half to race home.Another converted try put the Durham side further ahead. The Centurions responded with a try by full back Tom Robson, who impressed throughout, and just before the break, Robson scored a try to give Tynedale a slender 22 - 21 advantage.
After the turnaround, Durham showed that their backs had the skill and speed to threaten the Tynedale defence and scored two quick tries , one converted to give them the lead.
The home side then raised their game and with Owen Shield, James Webb and Jason Armstrong working well in the loose, they began to produce some quality ball for the lively backline and two tries by Robson, taking his tally to four, converting one of his tries. Another converted try by Micky Hall, again adding the extra points to his own effort, gave Tynedale a ten point advantage.
With the visiting side being constantly hit by hard defensive tackles with Olly Shrimpton, Ethan McLoud and Adam Binks to the fore., the heat and the intensity began to take it's toll.
The Tynedale side began to secure good clean ball for scum half Andy Harvey who had impressed throughout, and with captain Jake Sloan working hard in support, the game was given a one sided,somewhat flattering appearance, when Micky Hall, Ollie Hillary, Ewan Morrell and Callum Morrell all crossed the City line, three of these efforts were converted.
The game was a lot closer than the final result suggests and certainly the Centurions were given a stiff test throughout and despite the Durham side ending up with a heavy defeat the game could have gone either way. Certainly the Saracens second row pairing of Ian Charlton and Rory Craney did their utmost to dent the Centurions unbeaten record.