The second team fixture took centre stage at Tynedale Park and the large crowd were treated to a closely contested game against their Gosforth based adversaries, both sides had large squads meaning some talented players were available from the replacement bench for both sides. With the autumn sunshine shining down on the magnificent Corbridge facilities, Tynedale had the advantage of the stiff breeze at their backs for the first half.
Whilst winning a lot of possession and territorial advantage with Joe Hanning, Will Nankeville and Micky Hall making strong breaks, Northern were able to clear their lines due to the indiscipline of the home side who were penalised at regular intervals for infringements at the breakdown. However Tynedale did eventually take the lead, with the ball being moved left across the field with Ed Cawthorne and Seb Jansen feeding Tom Robson who crossed the line to open the scoring on 22 mins, fly half Jay West added the conversion from out wide to impressively extend the advantage.
With the Tynedale front row of Owen Loughead, Owen Shield and captain Ed Craney winning some decent possession from the scrum and Tom McCullough and Jacob Brown gaining territorial advantage with some strong runs and scrum half Matt Williams making good use of the ball with some quick breaks and finding some holes in the visiting defensive line, Tynedale were able to play in and around the Northern 22 metre line but again indiscipline cost them scoring opportunities.
However, in the 33rd minute the Raiders did cross the Northern line when the ball was moved through the backline and Liam Pitt touched down. The visitors tested the Tynedale defence after the restart but strong tackling from Callum Morrell kept the Northern side out and at half time Tynedale held a 12-0 advantage.
At the break Tynedale introduced some fresh legs from the touchline and Charlie Richards and James Sample were making some strong carrys into the Northern half and from a Richards break, prop forward Adam Telfer drove his way over the line, between the posts to put Tynedale further ahead, West converted.
Tynedale continued to play an attacking game before beginning to give away posession through handling errors and penalty infringements and found themselves having to defend their own line.
With David O'Neil Dicky Dunn and Dicky Hall, replacing his injured brother, Micky coming onto the field the defence held strong, aided by replacement full back Jonny Mock in his 19 th season with the club but with 15 mins left the visitors crossed the line to reduce the arrears.
The game was played out with no further score although both sides having chances to add to the scoreline but with tiring legs the attacks came to nothing, giving Tynedale the CANDY league points, coming a week after gaining an impressive win at Darlington Mowden Park.