Saturday, 28th October 2006, Grayfields

Before Saturday’s eagerly anticipated local derby between Tech and Seaton it would have taken a bold man to predict an open, high scoring encounter. By full time at Grayfields it was easy to see why.

Although this was a highly compelling and passionate affair it was a game low on skill and execution. Both teams were guilty of making numerous unforced errors with the ball being dropped far too many times. The home team were particularly culpable in this sense. Having utterly dominated the second half in terms of territory and possession Tech really should have had the game sewn up long before their visitor’s valiant last minute attempts to snatch a draw.

Coach Peter Robinson commented on his team’s shortcomings after the game, “to be hanging on to our lead at the end having been so dominant throughout the second half was very disappointing.”

The inability to finish teams off when they have them on the ropes is a problem that Tech will be hoping to eradicate from their game in the coming weeks. For the second time in as many weeks Tech came tantalisingly close to coming away with less than they deserved having been the better team for large periods. It will only be a matter of time before someone makes them pay.

But for all Tech’s inability to finish Seaton off, credit must go to the visitors who hung on tenaciously to set up the nerve-wracking finish. Indeed, Seaton had several chances of their own in the first half to establish a lead in the form of some very kickable penalties. Had they managed to set up a more substantial lead after the first period who knows what might have developed?

As it was the visitors led 3 nil after 41 minutes of first half action. Tech had started the game brightly and opposing indiscretions at the breakdown allowed them to keep their visitors pinned in their own 22. But Tech’s lineout was again to suffer another hit and miss afternoon and the lack of sustained pressure allowed Seaton to clear their lines. Seaton enjoyed their best phase of the first half from then on and only some excellent Tech defence prevented the gold and maroon shirts from breaking through.

Ian Wilson narrowly failed to put his team ahead on 36 minutes when he pushed a penalty attempt wide and after Seaton’s Jeff Storey emulated this on 38 minutes, the full back made amends on 41 minutes with a simple kick after Tech had been adjudged offside in front of their posts.

The lead was quickly extinguished moments into the second half. A Seaton knock on from the restart gave Tech a scrum mid way between half way and their opponents 22. The ball was quickly fed through the back line where it found Nick Corrigan. Having slipped past his first tackler the centre coasted through some poor tackling and sailed under the posts for his first try of the season. Wilson improved the effort and Tech were up and running.

Or so we thought! Despite dominating the vast majority of the remaining minutes Tech found adding to their total a tough task. It was in many ways reminiscent of the Whitley Bay Rockcliff game. Time after time an unforced error close to the line would stop a promising attack and allow Seaton off the hook. A number of kickable penalties were also turned down when simply improving the lead may have been the better option than going for the try.

Seaton’s tendency to infringe at the ruck manifested itself in Vince Lithgo’s sin binning on 23 minutes and after more dominant play from the home team, Ian Wilson took his team 7 points clear with a penalty on 34 minutes.

Seaton then produced a commendable late fight back and set up camp on and inside the Tech 22. Murray Stockdale, who impressed throughout, came close on couple of occasions to grabbing the try that would have given Seaton a shot at the draw. But, despite there being 9 minutes of injury time, no late heroics were forthcoming.

And so, a third league win on the trot for Tech and whilst improvements will be needed if they are to definitely make it 4 against Blyth next week, a scrappy win in a derby is better than no win at all. No doubt Seaton would testify to that.

Tech 10

Try: Corrigan (42)

Con: Wilson (42)

Pen: Wilson (74)

Seaton Carew 3

Pen: J Storey (40(+1))

Tech

Scrums 14, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 14, Scrums lost on own put in 0, Pens awarded 16, Kicked at goal 2 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 11, Ran 3, Lines won on own throw 9, Lines lost on own throw 6

Seaton Carew

Scrums 11, Attacking scrums 4, Scrums won on own put in 10, Scrums lost on own put in 1 (1 against head), Pens awarded 12, Kicked at goal 2 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 5, Ran 3, Scrummed 2, Lines won on own throw 6, Lines lost on own throw 1