A record crowd of 4,500 raised £7,000 for the English Federation of Disability Sport at Durham City’s Hollow Drift ground recently.

The rugby match, organised by Team Durham and Durham University’s Charity Committee, attracted the largest ever crowd for a university event, with almost a third of the student population in attendance.

DURFC Secretary Edward Wood said, “I have never been prouder of Durham University rugby than I am tonight, it was a very special night for both the players and the crowd.”

The result was a triumph for Durham University over local rivals Northumbria by 27-6. Durham put on an impressive performance against a strong opposition, who included six of their Falcons Academy players in their line up.

Durham scored four unanswered tries from inside centre Stuart Peel, lock Louis Mitchell and two from flanker Tom Maloney. Fly half Tom Dillon kicked two conversions and a penalty to Northumbria’s two penalties.

Fiona Patterson of the English Federation of Disability Sport North East said, “The whole event has hugely increased the profile of disability sport in the North East amongst universities and the wider community. I couldn’t be happier. The £7,000 will be used to encourage greater pursuit of sport and leisure qualifications, and involvement in university sport by people with disabilities.”

Durham University Director of Sport, Peter Warburton, added, “A special thank you must go out to the crowd’s generous support of our charity and the hundreds of volunteers who made the event possible. It was also particularly pleasing to hear the reception afforded to the primary school children from our local Education Action Zone during and after their tag tournament.”

At half time, Falcons Director of Rugby and ex-England fly half Rob Andrew, presented Durham University Athletic Union President Phil Brown with an award to commemorate Durham’s 5th place finish in the British University Sports Association rankings last year.