Boro hold strong to secure the points; Rugby.

GUISBOROUGH U15s hosted a tough Middlesbrough side at their Belmangate ground on the opening weekend of the season.

Both sides have done battle in the past and this match was no disappointment as they locked horns in damp and overcast weather.

Despite the conditions, the game was played with great tempo and commitment from both sides.

Middlesbrough kicked off and for the first 12 minutes there was nothing to divide the two teams. Both sides were making breaks but such was the ferocity of the defence, neither could penetrate.

Guisborough had just defended a 10 metre penalty and forced Middlesbrough to knock on in the 22. Pressure at the resulting scrum saw the hosts turned over, allowing quick ball out to the Middlesbrough backs who shipped with efficiency giving their right wing space to run on the outside and open the score with a try in the corner.

Guisborough nearly hit straight back from a penalty move when left wing, Jack Appleton, touched down in the corner but the ball had been knocked on and the try was disallowed. The hosts were managing to maintain pressure through some good phase play in Middlesbrough's half and were awarded a scrum five metres out for their efforts. Kane Watts picked from the base, driving for the line with his pack and backs supporting the maul. Middlesbrough battled to hold up the driving maul but in the end there was too much momentum and Guisborough leveled.

The visitors probed at Guisborough through some penetrating centre runs and would have done damage had it not been for some valiant tackling by the Guisborough back line. It looked all square for half time until a penalty was awarded to Middlesbrough and their quick decision making led to the ball being shipped to the left winger in space who made no mistake in extending the visitors' lead.

Guisborough came out firing in the second half and were looking good for a score before some handling errors deep in their own half off a set piece scrum allowed Middlesbrough's flanker to play to the advantage and touch down under the posts, extending their lead by 12 points.

Guisborough never gave up and managed to play some good controlled rugby in the Middlesbrough half. A penalty to the hosts just five metres from the line was just what they needed. A quick tap to fly half Joe Whyman, who spun out of the tackle to dive through the Middlesbrough defence and close the points gap to within five.

With both teams giving all, it was going to be a touch of magic or luck that would swing the game. Guisborough's magic came when David Wardell took the ball into contact but drove the Middlesbrough maul back allowing the quick ball out through Bradley Naughton and on to James Fitzgibbon. Fitzgibbon was grounded but had the foresight to pop the ball to full back David Wardell who sneaked into the corner leveling the score.

Both teams stuck to the task and as the players tired it was Middlesbrough who were awarded a penalty deep into Guisborough's half. There was no mistake from the Middlesbrough fly half as he struck the ball between the posts to take his side three points to the good. Despite late pressure, Middlesbrough held firm and finished deserved winners in a well matched game.

Guisborough's fly half, Joe Whyman, was awarded Man of the Match for his outstanding performance and control under pressure.