Tynedale Centurions 25 Rockcliff Vikings 27
The Vikings edged out the Centurions in a great advert for the CANDY league on a bright autumn day at Tynedale Park. Two kicks, one successful, and the other not, were the difference in a ten try thriller, well refereed by Lindsay MacNaughton.
The match was preceded by a minutes silence in memory of James Black and Hugh Jackson of Rockcliff, who sadly passed away recently.
The Cardinal and Golds kicked off into strong downfield wind, but were quick off the mark when Rob Straker barrelled his way through from half way to touch down, right the posts, for 0 5 with three minutes gone. Tynedale responded quickly and were on level terms within five minutes when Ian Charlton finished off a good spell of forward pressure.
The home side then hit a purple patch when left winger Alex Anson scored two identical tries in the left corner, both following good work by the home pack which sucked the visitors defence in, creating an overlap for Anson to finish from.
All was looking well for the home side, but Rockcliff rallied, and Liam Hardy finished a good forward drive, scoring the first of his two tries to bring his side to within five points of the home side with ten minutes of the first half left.
There was no further score until half time, but Rockcliff kept their momentum up as the second half started, and a great break down the right wing ended with the evergreen Jonny Gould crossing to equalise. As in the first half Tynedale responded quickly, and Will Roberts bundled the ball over from close range to take his side back in front at 20 15.
Rockcliff came back strong, and, despite being a player down following a yellow card, a great penalty kick to touch by Matty Brister took the visitors to within ten metres of the home try line. From the resultant line out Liam Hardy scored his second try when he took the ball at the tail and powered over to touch down for 20 20.
As the seventy minute mark approached, Tynedale once again edged ahead. Still with a man advantage, they moved he ball left and then right and created the space for debutant Dan Wilkinson to cut down the right wing and score.
With the clock running down, Rockcliff stepped up the gears, and a multiphase move pressed the home rear guard back. With six minutes left, from a ruck to the left of the posts, Michael Cooper scuttled through the home defence to touch down under the posts and equalise, . Michael Marvell drop kicked the first conversion of the game to edge the Vikings in front at 27 25.
A final flourish by Tynedale forced Rockcliff back, and, on the stroke of full time, they were awarded a kickable penalty. Luckily for Rockcliff it drifted wide of the posts, and at full time they took the bonus point win
Dom Maxfield was nominated player of the match for the Vikings, and Brogan Millar took the honour for the Centurions
The Vikings edged out the Centurions in a great advert for the CANDY league on a bright autumn day at Tynedale Park. Two kicks, one successful, and the other not, were the difference in a ten try thriller, well refereed by Lindsay MacNaughton.
The match was preceded by a minutes silence in memory of James Black and Hugh Jackson of Rockcliff, who sadly passed away recently.
The Cardinal and Golds kicked off into strong downfield wind, but were quick off the mark when Rob Straker barrelled his way through from half way to touch down, right the posts, for 0 5 with three minutes gone. Tynedale responded quickly and were on level terms within five minutes when Ian Charlton finished off a good spell of forward pressure.
The home side then hit a purple patch when left winger Alex Anson scored two identical tries in the left corner, both following good work by the home pack which sucked the visitors defence in, creating an overlap for Anson to finish from.
All was looking well for the home side, but Rockcliff rallied, and Liam Hardy finished a good forward drive, scoring the first of his two tries to bring his side to within five points of the home side with ten minutes of the first half left.
There was no further score until half time, but Rockcliff kept their momentum up as the second half started, and a great break down the right wing ended with the evergreen Jonny Gould crossing to equalise. As in the first half Tynedale responded quickly, and Will Roberts bundled the ball over from close range to take his side back in front at 20 15.
Rockcliff came back strong, and, despite being a player down following a yellow card, a great penalty kick to touch by Matty Brister took the visitors to within ten metres of the home try line. From the resultant line out Liam Hardy scored his second try when he took the ball at the tail and powered over to touch down for 20 20.
As the seventy minute mark approached, Tynedale once again edged ahead. Still with a man advantage, they moved he ball left and then right and created the space for debutant Dan Wilkinson to cut down the right wing and score.
With the clock running down, Rockcliff stepped up the gears, and a multiphase move pressed the home rear guard back. With six minutes left, from a ruck to the left of the posts, Michael Cooper scuttled through the home defence to touch down under the posts and equalise, . Michael Marvell drop kicked the first conversion of the game to edge the Vikings in front at 27 25.
A final flourish by Tynedale forced Rockcliff back, and, on the stroke of full time, they were awarded a kickable penalty. Luckily for Rockcliff it drifted wide of the posts, and at full time they took the bonus point win
Dom Maxfield was nominated player of the match for the Vikings, and Brogan Millar took the honour for the Centurions
