This was always going to be a difficult fixture for an understrength Centurions against a well prepared and in-form Rockcliff team. The task was made even trickier on a magnificent artificial pitch to which the home team were accustomed. Constant heavy showers created challenges not usually encountered by the visitors.

The opening ten minutes saw both sides make progress but full-back Adam Shane and centre Rory Dixon had to make try-saving tackles as Rockcliff always appeared more threatening. The Centurions made progress via Adam Todhunter's astute tactical kicking with excellent kick chase from the rampaging Oliver Hillary and Jacob Brown causing problems but, never really threatening to score.

Then, in a twenty minute period, the floodgates opened as the home side forwards and backs combined beautifully to score four well-worked tries. Everyone was working back and tackling hard but superior teamwork readily unlocked the defence.

Just before half time the Tynedale forwards were able to apply pressure and had six or seven attempts to drive over as Rory Craney and Josh Turnbull were held within inches from the line. Unfortunately, the ball was lost and the opposition's razor sharp backs ran in a magnificent try from behind their own line. This set back caused the Centurions to re-double their efforts and from a scrum near the 10 metre line, scrum half Jake Sloan broke and fed Todhunter who ran strongly and, despite receiving three tacklers on the 5 metre line, managed to force his way over for a well deserved score to leave the score at half time, 33-5.

After the break, Tynedale started brightly and after strong work in midfield from Ben Common and Rory Dixon, winger Jonathan Gormley managed to touch down wide out.

Any hopes of a come-back were dashed with the loss to injury of the influential Hillary and Turnbull with half an hour to go. The only replacement was the evergreen Andy Purves who managed to scrummage in the second row with George Hendry and secure the only ball won against the head all afternoon.

With a benchful of fresh replacements coming on Rockcliff finally grabbed five more tries, pouncing on handling errors as the visitors desperately tried to run any scraps from defence and even strolling through a line out at the end as tired bodies ran out of steam.

On a day when everything seemed to go against them, the Centurions fought with spirit and showed skills at times, but came up against a slick, skilled outfit who showed why they are top of the second team league.