BILLINGHAM
AFTER avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, Billingham have defied the odds and have already secured their national league status for next season.
Two wins from their opening two matches in National Three North set the tone, and despite a three-game blip at the beginning of November, the team bounced back to form before the festive break.
Convincing victories over Huddersfield YMCA and Burnage at Greenwood Road fell either side of a morale-boosting win at Morley, and those three successes before Christmas ensured Billingham will have no such relegation worries this time around.
With the instrumental Peter Evans at full-back, the team have more than held their own against sides boasting riches far greater than themselves.
Defeats against Rossendale and Cleckheaton must go down as the season’s disappointments to date, but having already beaten the seven teams below them in the table, seventh place means Billingham are on a solid footing.
Next up on Saturday is a trip to high-flying Sheffield Tigers, but having won their last three matches, confidence certainly won’t be an issue for this exciting Billingham side.
GUISBOROUGH
A SLOW start looked to jeopardise Guisborough’s Durham and North One promotion hopes, but a scintillating run of form since the end of September means top spot is now within their grasp.
Trevor Edwards’ exciting side failed to banish their away day demons at Hartlepool Rovers on the opening day, and that was soon followed by a disappointing 24-0 loss at leaders Morpeth.
That game perhaps came too early in the season for the Priorymen, but the home win over Novocastrians on September 27 was the start of an incredible run that has seen them win 10 of their last 11 matches.
Huge scores were wracked up against the division’s strugglers Blyth (89-0), Gateshead (61-14) and Sunderland (75-5), but it’s the team’s consistency that will be most pleasing to the coaching team.
Two tricky away games at Gosforth and Medicals tested Guisborough’s resolve before Christmas, but the team marched on and won both games convincingly.
That now sets up a mouthwatering match at Belmangate on Saturday as Guisborough host leaders Morpeth - and a home win will see the Priorymen go top of the division.
Edwards’ side have won six from six at home this campaign, and if current form is to be believed, few would bet against Guisborough claiming the title this year.
STOCKTON
PROMOTION looked a definite possibility for Stockton in Durham and North One after they won their first three matches, but that dream slipped away during what has been an inconsistent first half of the season.
Gateshead, Durham City and Darlington were all beaten by a Stockton side boasting plenty of attacking talent, but the single-point loss to Consett in September was the start of a ragged period.
Wins over Blyth and Hartlepool Rovers were followed by defeats to local rivals Guisborough and Medicals, and it’s been that kind of season for the team.
That 55-12 defeat at Belmangate was a shock result for the team, but to their credit they bounced back and produced one of the outstanding performances of the season when they ended Morpeth’s unbeaten start to the season in November.
With the reliable boot of Jeremy Good, Stockton are usually a tough nut to crack at Station Road, and they will be desperate to return to their early-season form when the season resumes.
A trip to Darlington awaits on Saturday, and a win there would surely mean that a top four finish is not out of the question for Stockton.
MIDDLESBROUGH
A FIRST season in Yorkshire One was always going to be a test for Boro, but they still sit a credible third in a season that has pleased and frustrated in equal measure.
An away win at Bridlington on the opening day set the pulses racing, but that was followed by back-to-back defeats against high-flying Doncaster Phoenix and Hullensians.
A highlight has to be the home win over Malton and Norton, who currently occupy second in the table, but too many times Ian Heslehurt’s side let themselves down on the road.
Defeats at North Ribblesdale, Selby and Yarnbury came as something as a surprise, but a three-game winning run starting at the end of November showed that the team was finding its feet.
Earning two losing bonus points at Doncaster Phoenix before the Christmas break highlighted Boro’s capability at this level, but lying 16 points off second spot, Boro may have left themselves too much to do.
A top three finish is definitely a realistic aim, and with the likes of Rhys Kilbride, Jack Bircham and Conner Foley in the back-line, Boro have plenty of attacking threat to trouble any team in the division.
REDCAR
A TURBULENT season off the pitch doesn’t seem to have knocked the Seasiders off their stride and Redcar will be itching to get going again in Durham and North Two.
Winning their first seven matches, Redcar exploded out of the blocks under Neil Young and looked every inch promotion contenders after winning at Acklam.
However, a bad afternoon at Ponteland on October 25 became even worse when fly-half Richie Young suffered a season-ending injury, and all of a sudden the wheels threatened to come off the promotion push.
A defeat at Bishop Auckland in November was hard to take for the management with the team desperate for some selection consistency, and Neil Young’s resignation came soon after due to his wife giving birth to twins.
But injured younger brother Richie stepped up to the plate and took over the reins at Mackinlay Park, and the team have not looked back since.
It’s now four wins from four under the new coach, and Redcar now find themselves occupying the second promotion spot.
With leaders Ponteland and rivals Acklam still to come to Mackinlay Park in 2015, a ground in which the Seasiders boast a 100% record, and the future looks bright.
A trip to Hartlepool awaits on Saturday, with that crunch clash with Acklam on January 10 looming large.
ACKLAM
HEAVILY tipped for promotion this season, Acklam failed to live up to their pre-season billing and lost two of their opening three matches in Durham and North Two.
A defeat at Seaton Carew was hard to take, but that was nothing compared to the home loss to Redcar on September 27.
Acklam found themselves camped in the Redcar 22 for long periods, but couldn’t break down a resilient away defence - coming away empty-handed.
But to the team’s credit, that setback and the arrival of coach Johan Otker inspired them to go on a seven-match winning run through October and November.
That saw Acklam catch up with second-placed Redcar, who themselves were stuttering at that point, but a narrow away day defeat at Barnard Castle knocked Acklam back to third.
Christmas cheer around Talbot Park was further dented when leaders Ponteland clinched a 30-24 win on Teesside in a game that could have gone either way.
Acklam’s trip to Bishop Auckland before the festive break fell victim to the weather, meaning they lie seven points adrift of second place with a game in hand.
Seaton Carew are next up with Acklam keen to get revenge for their early-season defeat, and then it’s the huge trip to Redcar for a clash that could decide that second promotion spot.
YARM
SIX consecutive wins at the start of the season and promotion looked almost a certainty for a Yarm side that was walking over their rivals in Durham and North Three.
But October 18 was their last victory, in a season that has been hampered with postponements, narrow defeats and tight draws.
A 29-11 defeat at Washington was their first setback of a campaign, and that was followed by a 15-0 home defeat to title rivals Whitby.
Draws with Seaham and Houghton fell either side of their cancelled match at Chester-le-Street, and the Christmas break then came shortly after a high-scoring defeat at Newton Aycliffe.
However, there is still plenty to play for in the second half of the season, with Yarm sitting fourth in the table and hot on the heels of Newton Aycliffe and Houghton.
A return to the early-season consistency could soon see Yarm fire themselves back into the promotion mix, but with Whitby running clear at the top time is of the essence for the Eagles as they look to kick-start their campaign.
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