A brilliant afternoon of junior rugby saw the Bishop Auckland U12 boys come away from Westoe with a hard-earned 11–8 win in very cold, muddy conditions.

Playing away against a big, physical Westoe side, the lads knew they were in for a proper test — and they rose to it superbly. From the first whistle this was a competitive, entertaining game, with both teams playing positive rugby despite the conditions.

What stood out most was our bravery and effort. The boys trusted their instincts, backed themselves, and showed real belief in what they’re capable of. There were some excellent tries scored across the team, built on commitment, support play and a willingness to keep working for each other when things got tough.

This was one of those days where the result genuinely mattered for the lads’ confidence — and they earned it. Every player contributed, whether through strong carries, brave defence, support lines or simply refusing to give in.

Tries came from:

Elijah (2)
Ewan (2)
Sam (2)
Leon (2)
Eli (1)
Harry (1)
Charlie (1)

Squad:

Thomas, Elijah, Ewan, Harry, Sam, Leon, Cameron, Charlie, Luca, Lucas, Morgan, Eli, Heath, Evan, Edward, Harley, James, Jacob.

A huge amount to be proud of today — not just the win, but the belief, resilience and teamwork shown throughout. A great step forward for this group and a performance they fully deserved.