Leeds Uni 1st/2nds 16-24 Northumbria Ninjawolves

A great second half fightback from the ninjawolves ensured that their 100% record remained intact in a match which they were lucky to win, Northumbria started in great style and scored before leeds had a touch of the ball. A high bomb from Jardine (which came back down with snow on it) puzzled the leeds defence and a cruel bounce along with excellent pressure from Tom Lunn brought about the 1st try, this was converted by jardine to make it 6-0, then northumbria went off the boil a little and allowed leeds to score 3 unconverted tries to make half time 12-6 to the yorkshire outfit. A good half time team talk from coach walton fired the lads up, but the fire didnt last long as leeds scored again, a grubber kick into the in goal was poorly dealt with by normally reliable higgins and the leeds man got the touch down to make it 16-6, Northumbria then decided to play, they scored mid way through the second half when harveys grubber was pounced on by douglas to score, kick converted to make it 16-12. Referee stevie wonder then decided to send MC Harvey (along with a leeds lad) to the sinbin for ungentlemanly pulling of an opponents shirt. Things looked bad at this point but then northumbria took the lead again after excellent work from Crosby who offloaded to Jardine to score, kick converted, 18-16, Northumbria then wrapped up the game after arguably the best try of the game when the excellent vision of Jardine picked out a pass to Jamie Gouldstone to wrap up the game, 24-16, job done. Good performances came from Crosby, Lumb, Jardine and the reliable Baker. The ninjawolves then had a good drinking sesh on the way home, thats a wrap, adios amigos.

Team

1. Higgins 2. Johnston 3. Baker 4. Harvey 5. Wood 6. Bahadori 7. Jardine 8. Housley 9. Crosby 10. Bradley 11. Lumb 12. Lunn 13. Crossley SUBS Douglas, Gouldstone, Short, Jones

Tries, Lunn, Douglas, Jardine, Gouldstone

Goals, Jardine 4/4

Man of Match, Lee Jardine

Dick of the Day, Bobby Bahadori

Newcastle University 1^st  8-18 Northumbria Ninjawolves RL

A large crowd gathered at the wind swept Cochrane park for the 15^th annual Newcastle-Northumbria rugby league varsity match. Northumbria, still smarting from last years defeat started the stronger of the two sides, penalising an error from there own kick off, pinning Newcastle in there own 20m for the first 15 minutes of the game. Newcastle responded with a strong defence putting in some bone-shaking challenges, keeping Northumbria at bay. Then came a piece of individual magic from Ninjawolves captain Bahadori. The hooker dummied both ways before powering through two tacklers to score under the posts. A moment of madness followed as Paul Wood was red-carded for striking, leaving the struggling Newcastle down to 12 men with only a third of the game played. Shortly after, Jardine added to his earlier conversion with an excellent penalty kick against the wind from just inside the Newcastle half, taking the score to 8-0 to the visitors. The second half began with a flurry as Newcastle came out all guns blazing. Strong defensive work from Bradley and Metcalfe kept Newcastle at bay until the third consecutive set, when Liam Clarke found space out wide to score in the corner. Conceding there first try in 160 minutes of rugby put the hunger back into Northumbria. Strong running and quick hands across the line led to an excellent team try scored by Crosby to the right of the sticks. Again Newcastle refused to lay down, coming back with a try almost identical to the first, with Clarke again scoring in the corner. This was the last piece of action Newcastle had, as Northumbria increased the pace and camped in the Newcastle half. sustained pressure led to man-of-the-match Metcalfe powering over from close range, Jardine again converting to take the final score to 18-8 to the undefeated Ninjawolves.