There will be joy or heartache for Teesside rugby teams with the final games of the league season
Prepare for a nailbiter - with the final games of the league season there will be joy or heartache for Teesside teams.
Despite good results on Saturday, Middlesbrough must win this coming weekend to stand a chance of beating the drop, while Billingham almost certainly also need to win.
And Guisborough face a tense time as they seek a promotion play-off slot.
Middlesbrough showed the progress they have made in recent weeks by storming into a 19-0 Acklam Park lead against North One East leaders Cleckheaton. But the visitors, who have already sealed the title, hit back to draw 19-19.
That leaves Middlesbrough needing a win - possibly with maximum bonus points - to avoid relegation. That game is at Alnwick, who could go down if Boro beat them.
Middlesbrough started Saturday’s game with the wind, and hard tackling earned them the upper hand.
Skipper Rob Bellerby struck with a try after five minutes, Simon O’Farrell converting. Then on 20 minutes, winger Michael Thornburn cut inside to score, with O’Farrell again on target.
Five minutes later, Ash Kearney scored in the opposite corner following a drive from the forwards. But Boro conceded a converted try on the half hour, then another try on the stroke of half time. They tried to hang on to the 19-12 lead, but Cleckheaton levelled on 60 minutes, and while Boro gained a good draw, the resurgence of Sheffield keeps them in the bottom three with one to play.
Billingham’s position in National Three North is almost as precarious.
They probably need to beat high-flying Huddersfield at Greenwood Road next week to be safe. But if they show the spirit and ability that earned them a 17-10 win at Burnage on Saturday they have every chance.
“We had to field a young patched up side, but they stood up to be counted, and deserved their win,” said director of rugby Stewart Evans.
“When you are only one score ahead, the opposition keep coming at you, but the lads stood firm, defending five metres out late on.”
Peter Evans scored a try, a conversion and a penalty, the other try coming from Danny Dixon.
Guisborough lost 18-17 at Consett, who could yet grab the play-off spot in Durham and North One. One more point would have ensured that Guisborough were in the driving seat going into the final game at home to Novos.
And coach Trevor Edwards feels his side were hard done by. “We had three tries disallowed, and two should definitely have stood,” he said. “But the referee wasn’t in a position to see clearly, and we have to accept that.”
Liam Corcoran, Dave Wardell and Phil Shields scored tries and Wardell kicked a conversion.
Stockton played well but went down 29-26 at home to Darlington. In the first half Martin Dixon scored a try, converted by Jeremy Good, who kicked two penalties. A further Good penalty and tries for Joel Simpson and Steve Taylor completed Stockton’s scoring.
In Division Two, Redcar lost 43-21 at Barnard Castle, after the Seasiders led 21-19 at the break, with tries from Richie Young, Danny McIlvenny and James Allison, all converted by Danny Addison.
But Redcar had struggled to field a side and their front row totalled almost 150 in years, so tired bodies struggled in the second half.
In Division Three Yarm lost 42-29 at home to Seaham, while in Yorkshire One, Acklam lost 56-24 at Pontefract.
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