Turnbull’s try hat-trick lifts Horden

Horden & Peterlee, with a much-changed backline, outgunned Ponteland 256 in Durham/Northumberland One on Saturday.

The Colliers suffered a big blow inside five minutes when No 8 Steve Heckles suffered a dislocated ankle and taken to hospital,

Horden, though, were soon ahead, as veteran winger Chrissy Lee broke down the touchline, popped a pass to supporting scrum-half Watso, who fed prop Thompson, who powered over to finish off the move he started.

Ponteland replied with a penalty, but Turnbull added a second unconverted try to give Horden a 10-3 lead, with Lee again involved. The visitors got back to within four points with a penalty early in the second half, but a third home try, on the hour mark, gave Horden the impetus to confirm victory.

From a lineout on halfway, Armstrong dropped the ball off the top to Watson, he hit Hartley with a long pass and the standoff then put a wide pass out to Turnbull, who accelerated around his marker to score in the corner, for a 15-6 lead.

Watson and full-back Turnbull, completing his hat-trick of tries, added to the score before the end, making it five unconverted tries for the Colliers, and a deserved bonus point.

Durham City ran out 6635 winners at home to Medicals, who were 40-7 down at the break.

In Division Three, Seaham lost 41-12 at Blyth.