The Centurions came up against very strong opposition for the second week in a row in a squad made up of players looking to press for the University first team, who were expertly coached, fit and extremely quick.

Amazingly, the Tynedale front five of David O'Neill, Brogan Millar, Phil Scandle, Alfie Clouston and Jonny Pape, always held the upper hand in the tight, constantly driving in the scrum and winning their own line out ball. For half an hour they battered forward but the students defended in numbers and held firm as they swarmed around the tackle area. A taste of what was to come could be seen when the students found a little space and ran in three wonderful tries from deep in their own half during this period.

Any slim Tynedale hopes were dealt a blow with the loss to injury of influential fly-half Dan Kerr just before half-time. The students took full advantage of this disruption to add a couple more running tries before the whistle to lead 29-0.

In the second half, Durham seemed to bring on a procession of faster and fitter replacements. The young back three of Tynedale, Donald Stembridge, Liam Pitt and Dan Heppell, tackled bravely but there always seemed to be a student or two on hand to keep their frequent attacks alive.

Some scintillating back play saw eight wonderful tries scored from all over the field in a feast of flowing football, great on the eye but dispiriting for the visitors. Tynedale went close twice through youngsters Sam Richardson and Ollie Haxton but were unable to cross for the score their continued efforts deserved as they stuck valiantly to the task right up to the end.