Signs were ominous when I arrived at 6pm to see Stockton out warming up and looking very, very sharp. I wandered into the changing room to see our 2 players, one rolling up a cigarette!

In drips and drabs we wandered in, having lost the skipper and vice skipper to farming duties and wingman sellars to law enforcement duties... It wasnt looking good!

Some reshuffling saw Saxons skipper Mike Reilly deputise at hooker, Andy Broere came in to the row and veteran Dougie Wardle packed down at 6. Danny Wolfe came in on the wing. Owen Robinson given the task of leading the team.

As expected the game started with Stockton controlling posession but Sedgies defence was excellent. We made the decision not to compete too much at the ruck and mark off, this paid dividends with our defence matching everything Stockton threw at us. The first score however, did go to Stockton, Sedgie committed the cardinal sin of turning our back on a penalty and Stockton moved it well to put their winger in. 0 - 7 Stockton.

Sedgie came back and managed to get the ball in our hands a bit more, Scrum half Soakell distributed well and there was some great carrying from Dan Lawson and new boy Mitch Corney.

We got into a great position having driven well up into Stocktons 22 but a wayward pass from a penalty put us on the back foot, picked up brilliantly by Nathan Waterhouse but his attempted offload didnt come off and Stockton were away. We did manage to track back but Stockton just passed around us and scored - 0 -14.

From kick off we continued back where we left off and Centres Fife and Pope found space, Pope set Wolfe away on the wing and he came close to scoring. Sedgie worked the ball back across and some further forward drives set up a series of rucks, Pedro Gray profiting from the short drives to score. 7 - 14

Some changes were made with Fife making way and YB thinking he was making way, in the confusion we were down to 14 men, Stockton taking advantage to score again before half time - 7 -19.

More changes with Fifey returning to the field, new lad Lee Keillor coming on at scrum half and Stu Walton coming on at prop, Bobby Blackburn in to the second row.

Sedge started really well, the ascendancy in the scrum paved the way for Mitch Corney to score under the posts, 14 - 19.

The try of the game was scored by Sedgie, from a scrum Keillor moved the ball to Nathan Waterhouse, his movement and footwork pulled his opposite number away and he found Danny Wolfe on an inside line to send the flyer away to score and give Sedgie the lead. 21 - 19

Stockton though, were a good side and put us under pressure for a period to come back. Despite pinning us into the corner for about 5 mins some heroic defending kept them out, when they moved it great line speed from Owen Robinson saw him hit man and ball, but a miracle offload from their centre put them away to score. 21 - 26.

Going into the last 20 the game was there to be won, unfortunately Stockton scored again to make it 21 -33.

We werent done though, Pedro Gray kicking through and chasing showing great fitness and determination to beat several chasers and score - 26 - 33 with 5 mins to play... Game on!

Sedgie set about trying to get the final score but time ran out and a great game finished with Stockton taking the spoils.. A lot closer than the last game we had in the spring!

Man of the match was awarded to new signing Mitch Corney for a great opening display, but creditable mention should be made to several others Nathan Waterhouse was great at ten and is growing in confidence all of the time. Owen Robinson led the side with great passion and was really positive throughout. Mike Reilly took to hooking really well and big Dan Lawson was his usual handful with some big carries.

What really is positive is looking at the bodies not available to add into the mix of this squad with a lot of last years Saxons really putting their hands up for the 1st game on 4th September v Barnie.

Thanks to the ref, not sure im a fan of some of these trial laws at our level I dont think they really work but the game flowed really well and the explanations were spot on.

Thanks as well to Stockton, absolutely top set of lads, Im sure you will do well in the CANDY leagues, certainly played against worse sides in DN2. Good physical game played in the right spirit. Look after our Old boy Karl Chapman, was good to see him and catch up after the game.

Best thing of all, rugby is back.... Lets appreciate it and keep working and enjoying what we do... roll on the season!