The much anticipated rematch between the Durham and Northumberland division three promotion hopefuls turned out to be a hard fought derby encounter.
Straight from the kick off Seaham recycled and cleared deep into Houghton territory. Houghton fullback Graeme Bennet collected and went on a mazy run beating three would be defenders. The offload to Newton Turton seen Houghton set up just on the twenty two metre line only for Centre to be adjudge to be holding on.
A quick tap by scrum half Brad Green seen him burst pass a poor Allan Widdowfields attempt of a tackle, side step Arthur Mason before out pacing the defence to score.
It wasn't long before Houghton were forced into an early change as Newton Turton and Dafydd Roberts clashed in a tackle. Turton suffered a bad split to he's eye which looks like it could rule him out until after the Christmas break.
Things went from bad to worse straight from the resulting scrum. Danny Bradley was smashed back by blindside flanker Coxon and the ball fell perfectly into Brad Greens hands. The scrum half raced away for he's second score of the game, conversion by Foster.
Houghton began the fight back around the twentieth minute mark when a penalty kick hit touch. The Houghton pack rumbled forward before Seaham sacked the maul. Jack Sneezham executed the same kick and when Houghton looked good to go, Craig Hicks spilled the throw to relieve pressure.
Houghton did eventually find the try they needed after a series of penalties in the Seaham twenty two. Jack Macallum give the referee little option but to show the yellow for slowing the ball. The Houghton pack picked and drove continuously until eventually Glen Atkinson popped over from close range.
The game levelled out for the next tens minutes as both teams defences cancelled each other out.
It was Houghton who got the final score of the half as James Ross fly hacked a loose pass. The quick footed centre showed good football skills to take the ball over in the corner. H/T 10-12
The first fifteen minutes of the second half were a real derby game as big carries and solid tackles dominated the game. Neither side could get the break they needed to ease the pressure. However Seaham did eventually break the deadlock after some silly penalties by Widdowfield for tripping and Bradley for offside. Seen them score a try worthy of leagues a lot higher than ours. Great interplay by forwards and backs seen Foster support to score in the corner. The flyhalf managed a touchline conversion to rub into the Houghton wounds.
Now out of the bonus point range Houghton fired back with big ball carries from Glen Atkinson, Ryan Pink, Dayfdd Roberts and James Ross.
Seaham's penalty count was creeping up again and Captain Atkinson opted to run quick. Another big carry from Roberts seen the ball switch sides quickly and Ben king raced in the corner to score.
The next five minutes seen Houghton throw everything at the Seaham defence. Evaldas Gurskis made twenty metres before Atkinson, Adam Reay and Watson carried short and hard. Houghton looked to have scored when Ryan Pink ran a hard line and slightly misreading the option he bounced Jack Sneezham throw a gap. The flyhalfs face lit up as the Seaham defence was split, however the referee adjudged crossing to the bemusement of the home side.
Seaham cleared there lines with a massive forty metre kick and with the Houghton side still reeling from gaining nothing from the earlier pressure. They took the bull by the horns, the pack carried hard for some ten phases before big Craig Gilmore barged over for the four try bonus point. This allowed the side to leap frog Houghton into second place.
F/T 15-24