This was a strange game inasmuch as both teams played their best rugby against a howling gale but, only the Centurions managed a single score playing into the conditions.

North Shields took an early lead when their forwards won a line out and drove over from close range.

This early set back roused the visitors and they produced a half hour when they dominated possession if not territory. This was due in particular to an amazing display by hooker Olly Murrell who regularly won ball in the line out from the throw ins of both teams. He also won all scrums, except two, by actually striking for his opponent's ball, a long-lost art in modern rugby.

The safest bet against the wind was to keep the ball in the forwards and the back row of Steven Blair, Hugh Holland-Creaven and Rob Earnshaw drove well on numerous occasions to create opportunities. Skipper Jake Sloan however, decided to adopt a high-risk strategy of running and passing into the gale. This seemed to work when Jason Armstrong and Ian Charlton committed defenders before hard-working scrum-half Sam Richardson fed Ryan Laverty. The big centre then needed to break through several tackles before streaking over the line.

The strategy of handling into the wind was bound to lead to stray passes but, stout defence by the back three of Jonathan Gormley, Callum Foxcroft and Ethan Mcleod plus, the ability of Murrell to steal back the ball in the scrum, kept out Shields until the last ten minutes of the half.

Then, a long kick and hack on was touched down and, in the last play of the half, the dangerous number 8 picked from a rare scrum that the home pack was able to win. He then burst through a flimsy defence missing the influential Holland-Creaven who had just left the field with a mystery illness. Two added conversions left the score at 19-5 at half time.

The Crusaders were also able to play better rugby against the storm and frustrated an expectant side who, although never under serious pressure, had to remain patient to break down a stubborn defence.

After twenty minutes, the breakthrough came when Mark Smales made good ground and sensibly linked with Angus Whitelaw to set up a ruck. Richardson cleverly switched the point of attack and Earnshaw skated home.

Sam Gill then showed good skills to catch an awkward spiralling kick and release Michael Ramsay. The prop forward showed an astonishing turn of pace from 20 metres to race over the line. Two conversions by the influential Murrell had brought the scores level but time was now running out.

Substitute full-back Any Purvis fielded a kick deep in his own half, jinked past a couple of defenders before placing a kick deep into the North Shields half. Possession was retrieved by the forwards and Richardson, Sloan and Smales took the ball close. The ball was quickly re-cycled and man of the match, Rory Craney, hung back to receive a nice pass and burst over to complete a double for the prop forwards.

Murrell added the points to complete the victory against a competitive North Shields and Storm Malik.