The Centurions retained the Candy Vase in an exciting final that was a much closer affair than the final score-line suggests.

The first-half was a tough forward battle with Rory Craney, David Hewison and Ed Weir in a front-row arm-wrestle that saw honours even and neither pack able to achieve dominance.

A dangerous attack by Consett was snuffed out by an enormous tackle from Ali Hopps deep in his own half. Roving back-row Callum Foxcroft tidied up and allowed Donald Stembridge to score a superb high-stepping try down the left wing. Pressure from Spencer Tolley prevented a Consett break through. James Sample and Ian Charlton were quick to support and turn over possession allowing quick-silver Andy Harvey to release his backs in a flowing move that saw Stembridge touch down out wide.

The visitors were tenacious in reply and scored a well-deserved try after forward pressure.

A very promising debutant, number 8 Harry Askwith, saw him drive the ball across half-way. Stembridge kicked through to gain a scrummage. Harvey switched to the blind-side to find the powerful Martyn Hutton who crashed over to leave the game in the balance at half-time, 15-5.

Both sides made changes after the break but the Centurions were able to call on a particularly strong bench including the fresh legs of six forwards. Although the game followed a similar pattern these changes eventually allowed the home side to step up the pace and gain the upper hand.

Ethan McLeod and Alex Birkenshaw worked hard to find Jake Sloan who produced an astute kick followed up and caught by Rory Dixon who dived over. Dan Heppell set off on a mazy run of over fifty metres and this led directly to a try as Sloan released Dixon to grab his second and kick the conversion.

Hard-driving by Jonny Pape and Michael Ramsay saw Birkenshaw and Askwith provide a nice platform for Sloan. The fly-half timed his pass nicely to the unstoppable James Crosby and the surprisingly quick lock added the conversion to his own try with aplomb.

Good work by winger Josh Scollick almost led to a try but, from the resulting line out, Jason Armstrong spotted a gap to force his way over.

To their credit the visitors were always competitive and it required last ditch tackles from Kael Horton, Hutton and Sloan to hold them out. They then got a deserved converted try following a good scrum.

Will Jonas made ground down the right wing late in the game and Heppell was able to round off a fine win by sprinting home, Harvey knocking over the conversion.

The Centurions had learnt from the mistakes of the previous two weeks by starting strongly and having a good enough bench to cover injuries and provide players to finish the game. Full marks to Consett who were right in this game until the final quarter and never allowed their heads to drop.