Redcar U17s v Ponteland U17s Nov.21st.2004
Sub zero temperatures, light rain, and a true playing surface, saw Redcar welcome Ponteland to McKinlay Park looking for an improvement on their previous performance.
The game started evenly with neither side able to gain the upper hand, and the signs were good for a tight competitive match.
After 8 mins. A mistake by the Redcar Backs on their own try line allowed Ponteland to open the scoring with a simple try, which was converted.
Unphased by this setback Redcar carried the game to their opponents, and slowly but surely gained supremacy. In the ten minutes following the try the Redcar forwards twice drove strongly over the line, only for the Ponteland defence to hold up well, and prevent a score. Eventually the pressure paid off, and No.8 Mark Ellis picked up the ball at the back of a 5 metre scrum, and crashed over the line to score his third try in three games.
Redcar were now in the ascendancy, and five minutes later a superb move involving power,
support and skill between forwards Michael Tucker, Dave Brown, and Andy Wills resulted in skipper Andy Wills diving over to put his team deservedly in front.
With eight minutes to go to half time Ponteland won a Redcar line out on the home sides 22, and passed the ball along the back line before scoring an unconverted try and re- take the lead.
On the stroke of half time Redcar were awarded a penalty 15m from the try line, which Liam Rogers confidently kicked over to take Redcar in to the break 13-12 in front.
The second half continued in the same entertaining vein with both teams giving their all, then after 15 minutes came what proved to be the turning point of the game. Following an incident in the corner, tempers boiled over, and second row forward, Dan Green was sin binned for his part in the fracas. Redcar lost their discipline for a while after this incident, and Ponteland took advantage of the extra man, and the disarray in the home team to score three tries, all converted, in nine minutes.
Once back to full strength Redcar tried gallantly to claw their way back, but when Ponteland won the ball from a Redcar line out, and ran through to score another converted try, with only five minutes remaining it was all over, and Ponteland finished victors with a flattering score line of 13-40.
Redcar Man of the Match: - Flanker Dave Windsor, he covered every inch of the park, and made some excellent tackles.
A much improved display by Redcar who matched their opponents for all but ten minutes, of the game. A stark reminder of the need to be focussed and disciplined for the full eighty minutes, or be punished.
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