Sedgie travelled with 18, which at one point didnt look likely for an always difficult trip to Ryton, but we managed to cobble together our 18 and it was a capable enough squad. Its been an interesting week, I had to duck out of training early on Thursday as I was ill and then got involved in a bit of a transfer saga which like NUFC we just couldn't get over the line! Hopefully, a signing we can get tied up but we will wait and see.

It was a windy and colder day than last week, with spots of rain coming in to play, our warm up for the second week in a row got off on time but we seemed a bit more subdued and a bit less excited than last week.

The game didnt start particularly well, with Sedgie conceding early on to quite a soft try from Rytons winger 0 -7 with the successful conversion. Ryton continued to put us under pressure and moved the ball well, for me they had 2 very good players in their number 6 and number 12 who both caused us problems all afternoon. However, after a period of pressure, John Pope read a pass and intercepted to sprint over from 25 yards, Gareth Pratt adding the conversion to level the scores. 7 - 7 with barely ten minutes on the clock.

Ryton retook the lead with a well struck penalty on 15 minutes. 10 - 7

Sedgie were starting to get on top, with some strong carries from Tom Ducker, Will Johnson and Phil Dawson. But we were met by a very stoic Ryton defence. On 25 minutes though, we were rewarded after a drive by big Dan Lawson fell just short, Andy Fife picked quickly and went over to give us the lead, with Gareth Pratts converson 14 - 10.

Having nosed in front Sedgie seemed to lose the plot a bit, a kick off was fly hacked instead of dived on which caused issues, Max King dived on the ball but in doing so was deemed to have played the Ryton player and a penalty was awarded. Ryton kicked for touch and though we defended well, we got hopelessly disconnected in defence and Rytons number 6 (Very impressive player) made use of the space and ran through three tackles to score another converted try. 17 - 14.

We thought we had taken the lead back, Dan Lawson bundled over from 5 metres but he was adjudged held up and a try line kick was awarded. (Im not a fan of this new law, previously we would have seen a 5 metre scrum which rewards the attacking team far more, but the laws are the laws)

It got worse as we conceded another score, this time another break from Rytons 12 who went through a gap and put their winger away to score again, 24 - 14 with the conversion and before half time it was compounded with another penalty kick to send us in at half time chastened at 27 - 14. In that period we lost two of our stand out performers in the half in Charlie Johnson and Tom Ducker with shoulder injuries. Andy Broere and Michael Bishop entered the fray.

Frustratingly, we had gone from being on top to being well down at half time.. by simply following up individual errors with more individual errors.

The second half saw us gain ascendancy in posession but we were very wasteful, the advantageous wind for Ryton from the first half died down a lot but we still didn't use it effectively and seemed to try and force the game, reverting to one up runners which played into Rytons hands. Both teams had chances but there were no further tries until later in the half. The most promising when we moved the ball wide and set John Pope away, as he bore down on his second score, they had a flyer who tracked back really well and tackled him into touch.

Another kick through from Gareth Pratt was chased down well by Danny Wolfe (Who had replaced Ryan Towler) and he mistimed his tackle and caught their stooping winger high and a penalty was awarded (Had we scored either of those chances, I believe we would have went on to win the game)

Finally on 70 minutes Sedgie were to score, Will Johnson and James Watson again carrying hard and Wylie Gareth Pratt used his outside men to sell a dummy and go over to score in the corner, following up with a great conversion. 27 - 21 with ten minutes to go ..... Game on!

For the final ten minutes, Sedgie would lay siege on Rytons line, except for a break again for their number 12 setting them up for some drives and only a tremendous turnover jackal from Will Johnson and Danny Wolfe saved us and allowed us to break out.

We thought we had taken the win when Phil Dawson went over in the corner, but again we were denied as in touch, it was a tight call. From the 5m lineout we made a decision to put Phil in to compete and he won the ball! We set up on a maul and drove toward the line, we took the wrong option when we tried to drive off the blindside, had we went open we would have probably kept the ball, as it was Ryton bundled us into touch.

Last play and again, Phil Dawson pressured but this time Ryton took the ball and their 9 booted the ball out behind and the game was lost.

Once again, loads of positives from Sedgie and a good performance but only 1 point to show for it but it could so easily have been 5 points, Once again the potential of this squad is there for us to see and there is no doubt we are capable of picking up more wins in this league that seems to be showing that on the day anyone can beat anyone. I felt we could of won this one, but like the transfer business, we just couldn't get over the line when it counted!

Our thanks to the ref, Who I thought had a good game, was clear in what he wanted and didnt listen or tolerate any back chat. He set his stall out early and was consistent, I thought he did really well in a game that could have spilled over at times.

Sedgie man of the match went to Will Johnson, who worked really hard all afternoon, but several others put their hands up for it with Tom Ducker (Before injury)Phil Dawson, John Pope, Gaz Pratt and Nathan Waterhouse all having fine games as well. While we can be disappointed with the loss, the performance was decent and we will play worse and win similar games this season.

Ryton, congratulations on the win, I think you were really determined in defence and had a couple of real stand out players in your 6, 12 and the young blonde lad that came on in the centre in the second half. It was brilliant to catch up with Mugsy and Skippa Mordue in the bar afterwards and bemoan the youth of today and unavailability which seems to be a big issue in our game at the moment and talk rugby just like the old days. Remember, the older we get... The better we were (At least in our own eyes anyway, Both of those lads were tremendous players in their day as well).

The Saxons travelled with 6 plus 4 Newton Aycliffe lads after suffering a few late cry offs, Boro sportingly lent some players to even the sides but we were well beaten with 2 of that 6 brand new to rugby. Again, easy to get dispirited but it was a run out for our boys at least.

Now the rallying call needs to go out, similar to all clubs I suppose that your clubs, Sedgie amongst them need their players to make themselves available and get back out on the field following a really tough few years of COVID restricting our lives. Its easy to fall into other habits get involved in other games and even being dragged around the metro centre... But we need you back! You don't need to be available every week but your clubs and the game desperately needs you!