Houghton Colts 45 Tynesett Colts 21

In a town synonymous with an annual autumnal feast, Tynesett’s hunger for a first win of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness went unsatisfied.
But, after a first half which saw them all but devoured by both their opposition and a gale-force wind, our boys showed they do maintain the appetite for a scrap.
None more so than Wilf McGill.
His two tries - sniping bravely off the back of breakdowns - helped his side recover from 26-0 down at the break and 33-0 adrift soon after the restart to trail 40-21 before conceding a score at the death.

Tynesett’s other try was a fine solo effort by Alfred Stanton, who was also three from three on conversions.

A well-drilled Houghton side ran in seven tries - several of them the result of excellent three-quarters play.
But, although losing the toss to look into the teeth of the gale were unfortunate, there is no hiding from the problems Tynesett gave themselves in the first half.

Possession was too often frenetic, compounded by a lack of depth across their own backline and too many wrong decisions - for example, kicking for touch from penalties amid the worst of the wind.
In defence, too many gaps around the fringe of scrum and breakdown gifted Houghton walk-in tries twice in that opening period.
After a competitive start, Tynesett knocked on, and Houghton’s slick work off the back of a solid set piece saw them go over just left of the posts.

Despite several stubborn defensive phases after squandered penalty advantage, the first freebie was then offered up, as a Houghton forward trundled through a biblical-sized parting of the waves to score under the uprights.
Then, almost straight from the resulting kick-off, the ball was moved quickly wide left for Houghton’s pacy winger to run in unchallenged from 70 yards.

At 21-0 down after just 13 minutes, the prospects looked as grim as the skies.
But Tynesett knuckled down, offering more competition at the breakdown than in recent weeks, and threatening superiority in the scrum.

More good, unselfish hands across the backline saw Houghton score an excellent fourth try just before the interval.
Then, when their excellent #10 engineered space in midfield for a fellow back to steam clear and extend the lead again three minutes into the second half, a 50-plus point defeat looked all too possible.

But then Wilf, Alfie and several prominent others - not least the impressive Olly Northly - got to work.
Olly constantly made yards with ball in hand, putting his side in a position from where Wilf bravely saw the opportunity at a ruck to pick and drive over for Tynesett’s first try.

Although Houghton’s half-backs then carved open a fine attacking line to stretch their lead again, more good work by Olly and Alfred set up Wilf to produce a perfect replica of his first score.

Then, after Thomas Wilson had sent his side deep into enemy territory with a memorable, mazy run, Alfred produced a classic fly-half feint-and-go to glide over for a superb score.

Although the visitors were now on the front foot, they were caught on the counter late on, as another Houghton speed merchant just about managed to touch down by the left corner flag.

So, after three straight defeats, much to chew on for Tynesett players. But a second half which left a sweeter taste in the mouth.

Neil Farrington