Billingham edged it 29-27 against Firwood Waterloo, the home side shaving the outside of the post with a penalty less than two minutes from time
Billingham's Peter Evans in action
Billingham won a thriller at Firwood Waterloo to all but end any fears that they could be dragged into a relegation dogfight.
In a fine game in which both sides played expansive rugby, Billingham edged it 29-27, the home side shaving the outside of the post with a penalty less than two minutes from time.
After a win that moves the Teessiders ten points clear of their hosts, Billingham director of rugby Stewart Evans said: “It was a cracking game, with well structured tries and refereed by an official who let the game flow and was consistent. The lead changed hands several times, and when we were 27-24 behind going into the last 10 minutes, we would have setled for that for we had scored four tries and would have got two points.
“But we started to win a lot of ball and Peter Evans got past his man to score the decisive try, and it’s a very good five points for us.”
Billingham have now won eight times this season and their lower mid-table berth in National Three North represents a good effort as they have been without key men for much or all of the season, including player-coach Chris Hyndman who is recovering from a long term knee injury.
Evans added: “We have tried to play good rugby, and on Saturday there were two sides playing the same way.
There are sides higher up the table than both us and Waterloo, who won’t play that well.
“We have a lot of time for Waterloo.
“We like the way they play and it was a game they could have won, though I felt we just deserved it in the end.
“I hope they stay up, but of course not at the expense of us.”
The day didn’t start too well for Billingham. They were held up in traffic and while they got to the ground in good time, they lost Johnny McLoughlin with a hamstring strain in the warm up, so had to shuffle the side before the start.
McLoughlin went to the bench, with Craig Shepherd going to the wing, and Tom Small to centre.
The visitors started slowly and went 10-0 down before Mathew Kirby scored Billingham’s first try, Peter Evans converting. Despite a further try from Anthony Rumis, which was not converted, Billingham were 17-12 down at the break.
On a drying, firm pitch, but in a tricky wind that made kicking difficult to control, each side had spells on top but Billingham deserved the win for outscoring the hosts by five tries to three, with a brace from Evans and one for Tom Small adding to the first half efforts. On Saturday Billingham are at home to Westoe, the side immediately below them in the table.
Yarm were the only other Teesside team in action, but they lost 40-12 at high flying Seaham in Durham and North Three. Yarm are third from bottom with three wins so far this season.
In Durham and North One Guisborough were without a game, but their chances of making the promotion play-off were boosted when rivals Blyth lost at Gateshead. Durham and Darlington are also in the frame.
In Division Two Redcar’s home game with Ryton was postponed. On Thursday it was decided that baring a change in the forecast and a drying wind, the game would be off as the pitch was so wet.
Several players who had changed shifts decided to work, so on Saturday morning when the game could probably have gone ahead, Redcar didn’t have a front row available.
The club is waiting to see if they are docked points.
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