The Centurions just edged this game between two well-matched sides playing controlled rugby in difficult conditions.

Ryton, with a stiff breeze behind them in the first half, were able spend a great deal of time in the Tynedale third of the field. The home scrum took some time to settle and the visitors took the lead after a powerful surge allowed the number 8 to pick and touch down.

Eventually, the front five of Rory Craney, Ollie Murrell, Ed Weir, Ian Charlton and Jason Armstrong solved their early problems and were able to achieve parity in the scrums and even take a couple against the head. This relieved a great deal of pressure and the Ryton fly-half began kicking to the corners as his two skilled line-out jumpers were dominating possession in that area. Fielding some of these kicks allowed the lightning-fast Tynedale wingers, Dan Heppell and Adam Barnett, to showcase their skills and make ground into the wind.

Good work from deep by Rory Dixon, Martyn Hutton and Sam Harrison saw Tynedale make progress that was continued by the swash-buckling number 8, Hugh Holland-Creaven, leading to the award of a penalty 30 metres out. Realising that every point was precious, fly-half Andrew Murray struck the ball unerringly between the sticks. It still required stout defence by Callum Foxcroft and Chris Kerr on their own line to leave the score 3-5 at the break.

Early in the second-half Tynedale still favoured a conservative approach, looking for position and probing around the fringes. The scrum, with the addition of the influential Lewis Sparke, was now a potent weapon. From 5 metres, Holland-Creaven controlled well, protecting scrum-half Ollie Haxton who then darted blind and fed the supporting Murray to crash over near the touchline, 8-5.

To their credit the Ryton half-backs played even better into the wind with sniping runs and a clever short kicking game that kept Jonathan Gormley and Spencer Tolley pinned back in defence. A little chip up the middle was taken by Tynedale but, enthusiastic support saw the ball won back and moved swiftly to the right winger who scorched home, 8-10.

A long Murray kick resulted in a line out close to the Ryton line. Open-side flanker Kael Horton, who was outstanding throughout the game, pressurised in the line out and hooker Murrell showed great reactions to dive through on the loose ball and score. This led to a wide out conversion that Murray curled beautifully just inside the post, 15-10.

The visitors re-doubled their efforts and deservedly re-took the lead when a well-placed kick landed just in front of Tolley. A wicked bounce hit him full in the face allowing the right winger to seize the rebound and race in under the posts for an easily converted try, 15-17.

With not much time remaining, Ben Turnbull ran back a kick and good work by Sparke and Sam Gill won a penalty on the half-way spot. With the wind behind him, Murray opted for what seemed like an optimistic shot at goal but, the ball duly sailed over to produce the final score, 18-17, a mighty close-run thing.