BOOSTED by new arrivals, a much strengthened Corbridge Cenurions side ran riot at Northern Panthers.

Fielding three players from Tynedale's U18 Colts side along four people making promising seasonal debuts, they were always in control on their travels.

Teenager Cam Grant was pick of the bunch with a hat-trick of tries to go alongside his excellent kicking, getting the ball rolling early on when he took a quickly taken penalty and scorched in from 20 metres before converting his own try.

The lead was reduced soon after though when the strong Northern forwards turned over possession in a maul and drove over in reply.

Good work by stand-in prop Mark Smailes and Dave Nicholls produced nice ball that Andy Harvey moved to Grant who ran strongly, drew the full back and passed to Callum Morrell to easily outpace the cover to score wide out right.

Just before half time, a powerful break by No. 8 Jonny Atkinson saw him over, and Grant was again successful with the kick to make it 19-5 at the break.

The second half was a much more even contest as Northern exerted a great deal of pressure as they kicked for territory and then tried to run the ball at every opportunity.

Only strong tackling by all the backs, including the try stopping efforts of youngster Finn McKendrick and full-back Ross Keady, plus another from flanker Benn Horncastle, prevented the home side getting back into the game.

After 20 minutes, a home side comeback was derailed when fly half Rhys Ward gathered the ball on his own 10-metre line and set off on a mazy run. He left several defenders clutching at thin air before touching down close to the posts.

The Centurions extended their lead after another Ward break was continued by Luke Murtagh, who ran hard to be hauled down 10 metres short. As usual the rampaging Owen Shield was hand to drive to within a metre with the ball recycled quickly to the determined Atkinson to bullock his way over for a second time.

An uncharacteristic tackling lapse allowed the Panthers to reduce the deficit, before Corbridge settled the match with three further tries in quick succession.

Rory Craney picked the ball up from a ruck at halfway and ran strongly before finding support from another of the Colts James Sample who showed a great turn of pace for a second row to score easily.

After a quickly taken penalty, McKendrick ran strongly to feed Grant who cruised over wide out right, with the same player then repeating the effort wide out left for a fine hat-trick after brave recovery work from Robbie Nixon and good support from Shield and Andy Purves turned defence into attack.

Grant was equally as impressive from the kicking tee, converting all three tries.

The never-say-die Northern side had recovered a little of their composure and managed to score two late converted tries that their efforts deserved.