Rugby round-up: Former coach returns to inspire Redcar to derby double

Redcar brought back their previous coach Neil Young for their top of Durham and North Two derby against Acklam.

And his powers of motivation had the desired effect as Redcar maintained their promotion push with a 17-8 win in gale force winds at Mackinlay Park.

The hosts gained an early numerical edge when Acklam scrum-half and former Redcar player Chris McRoberts received a yellow card.

But it wasn’t until he returned to the field that Redcar scored in reply to a Danny Ashton penalty as winger Craig Newlands scored the game’s opening try which Danny Addison converted.

Redcar played with the wind at their backs in the second half and increased their 7-3 half-time lead to 12-3 with a try from Addison.

Acklam began to gain momentum after bringing on Ricky Scott for his debut, and got a try of their own back as Ashton crossed.

But their comeback hopes were dashed when Redcar scored another try from Brian Forman, although the visitors thought the centre’s effort should have been chalked off for a forward pass.

Redcar's James Cochrane powers through against Acklam

An inexperienced Middlesbrough side had an afternoon to forget in Yorkshire One as Malton and Norton sliced them apart in a 64-7 defeat.

Under 18 players Jacob Richardson, Joe Grant and Aaron Lawson were all given places.

But a full-strength Boro side would probably still have struggled against a high-flying Malton side sitting second behind unbeaten Doncaster.

The first half was a bit of a disaster for the visitors, with Malton and Norton getting their four-try bonus point tied up well before the half-hour mark thanks to their pacy backs and dynamic forwards.

Boro battled hard after the break and enjoyed a solid 20-minute period where they dominated possession and territory, but all they had to show for it was a Jacob Richardson try.

In Durham and North One Stockton had to play into driving horizontal snow and were down to 13 players at one stage at Consett. But they came good in the end as Jeremy Good’s last-kick-of-the-game penalty gave them a 22-19 victory in Durham and North One.

Stockton made two changes with Simon Crozier and Martin Dixon coming into the starting line-up, and they found themselves chasing the game as Consett scored an early converted try.

Good got the visitors off the mark with a penalty following a series of forward drives, and he booted two more after Consett had kicked two of their own to leave Stockton trailing 13-9 at half time.

Stockton took the lead for the first time early in the second half when prop Andy Bailes was driven over the line for an unconverted try following a lineout.

The lead only lasted two minutes as Stockton conceded a penalty under their own posts, but visiting centre Ritchie Brown picked up a loose ball to score and put them back in front.

Consett kicked a penalty to tie the game but Good kept his composure in injury time when he slotted in from out on the left.

Michael McDougall for Guisborough

Guisborough made it seven wins in a row with a 34-3 romp at Novocastrians to remain one point off leaders Morpeth at the summit.

But Billingham lost 29-7 at Sandal in National Three North, while in Durham and North Three Yarm shut out Prudhoe 27-0 at home to celebrate their first win since October.

James Stonier scored two of their four tries in the bonus point win, but the match had to be halted for 15 minutes in the first half because of a blizzard.