The Centurions travelled to McCracken Park with a strong squad, boosted by a couple of new faces in the line up, regular fixtures and some strong performances attracting players to join up with the third selected side. With the Northern senior sides having no fixtures, the game attracted a large crowd on the first team pitch, looking in pristine condition thanks to the attention of Centurions squad member Andy Purves.
The game kicked off in ideal conditions, and early pressure from the home side gave them two early tries, one converted. The Centurions responded and good breaks by Jake Sloan, supported by Martyn Hutton and one break down the right wing by Seb Johnson were all broken down by a resolute Northern defence and this proved to be the turning point of the match and the Panthers ran in a further two tries before the break to give them a 24 - 0 nil lead with one conversion added to the total.
A stern team talk at half time from captain Sloan left the Centurions in no doubt that the poor finishing in the first period had cost them dearly and they came out determined to right the wrongs and sniping runs from Micky Wharton and strong surges from Toby Clifford, Jeff Wheelans and Johnny Pape troubled the home defence. When the Northern side did get into the Tynedale half they were awarded a penalty which was stroked over to extend their lead.
To their credit Tynedale responded five minutes later when Mark Smales combined with Rory Dixon who raced through the Northern defence to score a great try, Dixon converted to give Tynedale hopes of a revival. This was short lived however when the pact Northern left wing was released in space to outstrip the home defence to score out wide.He added another try shortly afterwards to give the Northern side an unassailable lead.
Far from giving up the Tynedale side produced their best spell of play and with George Hendry putting in his trademark crunching tackles and Callum Foxcroft, Jacob Brown, Rob Earnshaw and with Jonathan Gormley and Rory Craney providing great support, Tynedale scored two tries through influential fly half Callum Morrell, Dixon converted this, then Martyn Hutton forced his way over the line for a well deserved score, having returned to the field following a painful shin injury late in the first period.
Unfortunately this was to be the end of the fight back and Northern scored one final converted try to claim the victory.
The two Tynedale props Jeff Wheelans and Johnny Pape were awarded joint Man of the Match, who, along with the much improved Ollie Murrell at hooker had battled hard all afternoon to contain the large Northern pack in the set piece and loose.