Barnard Castle 41 Gosforth 16

IT'S not just cricket which is flourishing in Barnard Castle. The rugby team might not match their flanelled neighbours' cup and league double, but they are clearly upwardly mobile.

In the days when Roger Uttley led Gosforth to John Player Cup glory it was unimaginable that they would one day take a Teesdale towsing.

Barney's progress might be limited by their facilities, but at least they have a settled home, while Gosforth have been forced into a nomadic existence.

Since a former owner of their successors, Newcastle, ousted them from the Falcons' training ground at Druid Park, they have rented premises at Broadway West.

They are unlikely to feature in the top half of Durham and Northumberland One, but promoted Barney will.

“We've had an encouraging start and everybody is telling us how well we are going to do,” said chairman David Jackson. “But we are just looking forward to having a comfortable season.”

Although forwards coach Junior Fagalilo sat out Saturday's game, Jackson expects him to play most matches, along with backs coach Chris McTurk.

“Junior has got the players fitter and playing as a team. He doesn't take any nonsense. We also have John Oates coaching the junior sides and helping us in our efforts to get more money into the club.

“We don't have any new players, just those who have come through the ranks. Hooker Danny Souter has come back to us, and another local lad, prop Curtis Brunel, is now taking it seriously and has come on a lot.”

After many years of trying, the club now has a 25-year lease on the Demesnes pitches, which they have drained. But old covenants will prevent them from building there.

In the absence of another former Mowden Park player, Sam Errington, McTurk played at fly half and used first his pace then his chip and chase skills to score two tries.

There was a hat-trick for powerful No 8 Rob Stanwix, while lock Dan Potts stormed over with the game barely a minute old.

Talented full back Adam Kicks finished in the left corner following a line-out steal on the right for the seventh try, three of them converted by McTurk.

Although the Gosforth backs showed some early pace, the only time the visitors were allowed into the game was when they were gifted ten points in first half injury time.

A second penalty to touch produced a converted catch-and-drive try and the referee awarded a penalty for backchat at the restart. The well-struck kick sailed over from the halfway line and the gap was down to 26-16.

But whenever Gosforth threatened in the second half stern defence kept them out.