THERE were many causes for Prudhoe and Stocksfield to be positive despite starting the season without a point to show for their efforts.

For they put in a battling display against South Shields, who have returned to Durham and Northumberland III after one season in the division above, before finally ending on the losing side of a 33-19 scoreline.

P&S were leading 14-3 at one point but injuries and ill discipline cost them, with Shields using their replacements to good effect to kill off the brave fight from the visitors.

Yet Prudhoe will go into their opening home game with Yarm on Saturday full of confidence after displaying early signs that a good season is on the cards.

Typically P&S are slow starters as they're without the services of their cricket playing members, but they were able to field a decent team for the trip to a strong South Shields side which described their guests two years ago as 'not a very good team'.

But with Alex Crozier, Rob Reed and Carl Ferguson all coming into the side, and Ryan Chamberlain, Gerry Robinson and Raji Kingman among others yet to come back, thing look like they'll be a lot different this time round.

However, the hosts did take an early lead as their pressure resulted in a successful penalty as Prudhoe seemed determined to go for a record number of infringements in the shortest time.

Shields would have been expecting an easier game to the ones they were used to last term, but they were shellshocked when P&S roared back into the game with Steven Henderson just sending a penalty whistling past the post.

They were even more worried three minutes later as their home support was silenced when, after a series of pick and goes, Prudhoe captain Chris Patterson stretched his legs to get his side up-and-running. Henderson converted to put the visitors 7-3 ahead.

For the next quarter of an hour, Shields could find no answer to Prudhoe who pressed forward after absorbing everything thrown at them. However, they suffered a setback when Crozier was yellow carded for adjudging to have thrown the ball at an opponent.

Things started to worsen and Patterson was taken to hospital after splitting his forehead following a clash of heads, creating space for Dan Whiley at nine with a reshuffled back line.

But Shields were unable to make the most of the extra numbers with Yannick Debil gathering the ball and running at pace through the home defence to score a fine individual try, Henderson's conversion seeing P&S 14-3 in front.

The half ended with Prudhoe legs tiring and the home side were finally across the line to bring them to within six points of a stretched away side.

A further reshuffle was needed for Prudhoe with Reed unable to continue into the second half, and South Shields reduced arrears further with a penalty as the visitors continued to fall foul of the referee.

The tide finally turned for the home side with another penalty awarded, a determined run from a tap penalty allowing Shields in for a 18-14 lead.

Shields turned to their bench and started to heap further pressure on, two tries, one of which was converted, put the game beyond Prudhoe who were again down to 14 when Dave Rodgers saw yellow - just moments after another injury blow as Adam Murphy turned his ankle and had to leave the field of play!

But the spirit and style of P&S was typified by one of the new recruits, Ferguson, as he drove himself over the line with the last play of the game.