NSB were delighted to be invited to take part in Saturday fixtures at one of the country’s strongest Rugby schools, Sedbergh. The 1st XV travelled along with the Development XV to take on their Cumbrian counterparts who featured ex NSB pupil Ed Irons. The 1st XV started well and it was noticeable that the game was being played at an extremely high intensity. After an early stalemate it was a flash of brilliance from scrum half Ruaridh Dawson that took NSB into the lead when he jinked over from a penalty. Sedbergh were soon on the front foot and hit back to make it 7-7.
The NSB backs then took control with the forwards providing a plentiful supply of good ball. Full back Jack Appleton sliced through to score before winger Will McFarland and No. 8 Matthew Charlton crossed straight from the ensuing kick offs to give NSB a 26-7 half time lead. Shortly after the break Dawson shot over for his second ry before the dominant driving maul led to prop Dan Hails crashing over. Excellent hands from Joe Nicholson, Joe Cowan and Cam Fisher-Naylor set up speedster Tom Pattinson to race over for the next from half way before a superb team move ended up with flanker Matthew Andrew dummying to score under the posts. The scoring was concluded by the flying Falcons Academy scrum half Dawson who raced in from 30m to make the final score 58-12. A superb performance from Dan Gray’s team, befitting the surroundings, hospitality and atmosphere in which the great game of Rugby thrives in this part of the world.