Whitley Bay Rockcliff Vikings 28 Tynedale Centurions 24
The Vikings edged out the Centurions in a closely fought game at Hillheads last Saturday, in a repeat of the outcome of the equally close game at Tynedale last November. Both teams were a credit to the standard of rugby in the CANDY league 3 North, with league winners Tynedale and second placed Rockcliff entertaining the crowd with some exciting running rugby, and the two sides fielding a mix of experience and youth.
Kael Horton got Tynedale off to a great start with the opening try of the game, but then both defences held firm as the two sides tried to run the ball at every opportunity. It was thirty minutes before the next score, when Adam Robinson cut in from the left wing to equalise for Rockcliff. David Neasham added the conversion to take the score to 7-5.
Tynedale responded just before half time, when Martyn Hutton touched down, converted by Alan Hyslop for 7-12 at the break.
The Centurions were first off the mark in the second half, when Seb Jansen crossed to score, unconverted, but the Vikings came back quickly and within five minutes Ciaran Bound broke through to cross, converted by Neasham, to close the gap to three points at 14-17.
Once again Tynedale drove the score on, with Will Charlton scoring and Hyslop converting for 14-24.
Rockcliff needed to close the gap, and after a spell of forward pressure, Zak Cook crossed from close range in the left corner. Once again Neasham added the extras, and the gap was back to three points with twenty minutes left to play.
With their tails up, the Vikings kept the pressure on, and were finally rewarded when scrum half Joe McAnulty, making his senior debut after stepping up from the Colts, broke from the base of a scrum and was fouled as he went to touch down at the posts. The referee awarded a penalty try, and Tynedale also took a yellow card.
Now in the lead, and with just over ten minutes left to play, the outcome was in Rockcliff's hands, but fourteen man Tynedale, inspired by skipper Hutton, took the game to Rockcliff and only some last ditch defending, including a try saving tackle from Luke Pickerill, held the visitors out.
Finally the referee blew for no side, to the Vikings relief.
Martyn Hutton took the honours for player of the match for the Centurions, and David Neasham took the plaudit for the Vikings.
The Vikings edged out the Centurions in a closely fought game at Hillheads last Saturday, in a repeat of the outcome of the equally close game at Tynedale last November. Both teams were a credit to the standard of rugby in the CANDY league 3 North, with league winners Tynedale and second placed Rockcliff entertaining the crowd with some exciting running rugby, and the two sides fielding a mix of experience and youth.
Kael Horton got Tynedale off to a great start with the opening try of the game, but then both defences held firm as the two sides tried to run the ball at every opportunity. It was thirty minutes before the next score, when Adam Robinson cut in from the left wing to equalise for Rockcliff. David Neasham added the conversion to take the score to 7-5.
Tynedale responded just before half time, when Martyn Hutton touched down, converted by Alan Hyslop for 7-12 at the break.
The Centurions were first off the mark in the second half, when Seb Jansen crossed to score, unconverted, but the Vikings came back quickly and within five minutes Ciaran Bound broke through to cross, converted by Neasham, to close the gap to three points at 14-17.
Once again Tynedale drove the score on, with Will Charlton scoring and Hyslop converting for 14-24.
Rockcliff needed to close the gap, and after a spell of forward pressure, Zak Cook crossed from close range in the left corner. Once again Neasham added the extras, and the gap was back to three points with twenty minutes left to play.
With their tails up, the Vikings kept the pressure on, and were finally rewarded when scrum half Joe McAnulty, making his senior debut after stepping up from the Colts, broke from the base of a scrum and was fouled as he went to touch down at the posts. The referee awarded a penalty try, and Tynedale also took a yellow card.
Now in the lead, and with just over ten minutes left to play, the outcome was in Rockcliff's hands, but fourteen man Tynedale, inspired by skipper Hutton, took the game to Rockcliff and only some last ditch defending, including a try saving tackle from Luke Pickerill, held the visitors out.
Finally the referee blew for no side, to the Vikings relief.
Martyn Hutton took the honours for player of the match for the Centurions, and David Neasham took the plaudit for the Vikings.
