Saturday, 16th December 2006, Grayfields
A return to league action coupled with a return to winning ways made this pre-Christmas encounter all the sweeter for Tech and their supporters. A week after their encouraging friendly defeat to West Hartlepool, Tech demonstrated that they still have the ability to make further ground on the league leaders in the New Year by seeing off Guisborough with a more comfortable victory than the score line might suggest.
Tech had dominated in terms of territory for much of this game and there could have been few arguments from the Guisborough camp had the hosts emerged from this contest with a victory margin of 20 points or more.
One of the main reasons that Tech were not able to stroll to victory was a relatively poor display at the breakdown. Poor ball retention at the tackle area has been an issue that, thankfully, has not been much of a problem for Tech on their home patch. But on Saturday it was alarmingly frequent and the sloppy turn over of ball allowed Guisborough to escape punishment on numerous occasions.
But, other than a fine try immediately after Tech had gone 12-0 up, the visitors rarely looked like breaching the Tech goal line, a testament to Tech’s defence. It is one thing to be able to rack up large scores but if your defence creaks at slightest hint of an attack then chances are you will be in trouble. On this showing, and indeed other performances this side of New Year, Tech appear to be confident in this area of the game.
The first half was punctuated with errors but Tech still did enough to earn themselves a 7-0 lead. An early break from Adam Howard very nearly culminated in a try for Nick Donnelly after just 7 minutes but some last gasp defence from the Priorymen halted the move.
Guisborough winger Des Horton had posed problems for Tech in the first game between these two clubs earlier in the season and the pace of the number 14 gave the hosts plenty to think about once more. His speed very nearly set up a try for opposite winger Mendoza on 15 minutes after Tech had nearly scored themselves. A good break by Chris Knight created an overlap for Richard Foster but the full back’s pass was delayed and, after the ball missed its intended target, Horton hacked the ball up field. Good passing from the ruck then presented the opportunity for Mendoza but great defence by Carl Brown, who was to enjoy an outstanding game, prevented the score.
Ian Wilson pulled a penalty wide on 24 minutes but when Guisborough’s influential lock, Jon Berriman, was sin binned on 37 minutes Tech stepped up the pressure and grabbed their reward 5 minutes later.
A good drive from Adam Howard saw the lock held up over line but, from the attacking scrum, fine work by Andy Palmer enabled Alex Best to crash over from a resultant ruck. Wilson converted with a fine kick from out wide.
Now in the ascendancy, Tech continued to apply pressure on their visitors after the break. This pressure resulted in a try in 46th minute for Richard Foster. Good scrummaging close to the Guisborough line established a commanding platform for Tech and after great work from Chris Williamson, Nick Donnelly offloaded a wonderful pass to Foster whose strength and power allowed him to beat his marker to the corner.
But poor play at the restart from Tech paved the way for Guisborough’s best attacking position of the game and the opportunity was grabbed with both hands. A sloppy turn over allowed Guisborough to take the ball deep into the Tech 22 and after some lovely movement Horton found himself on the end of a pass to dart over by the posts. Fly half Stephany failed to improve the score with a poor kick.
Tech then had opportunities to extend the lead with a number of attacking scrums but sloppy handling allowed the visitors to clear. With time running out Guisborough produced a late fight back with some impressive forward drives to take play into the Tech 22. But, with the home defence holding firm, there was to be no emulation of Tech’s last gasp draw at Belmangate.
Tech 12 (7)
Tries: Best (40(+2)), Foster (46)
Con: Wilson (40(+2))
Guisborough 5 (0)
Try: Horton (48)
Scoring sequence (Tech listed first):
5-0 (T), 7-0 (C) HT 12-0 (T), 12-5 (T)
Tech
Knight, Foster, Donnelly, Corrigan, Brown, Wilson, Williamson; Dove, Hamilton, Palmer, Howard, Wray, Cook, Best, Pinchen. Subs used: Campbell, Cheshire. Sub not used: Thompson
Sin Bin: Cook (24)
Scrums 15, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 15, Scrums lost on own put in 0, Pens awarded 12, Kicked at goal 2, Kicked for touch 7, Ran 3, Lines won own throw 12, Lines lost on own throw 6, Free Kicks 0
Guisborough
Pattison, Horton, Hamlyn, Motson, Mendoza, Stephany, Muir; Devenport, Lodge, McCluskey, Leggot, J Berriman, Hucker, Towers, Richarson. Subs: R Berriman, Buckworth, George (All used)
Sin Bin: J Berriman (38)
Scrums 13, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 12, Scrums lost on own put in 1 (0 against head), Pens awarded 5, Kicked at goal 0, Kicked for touch 5, Ran 0, Lines won on own throw 12, Lines lost on own throw 2, Free kicks 1
Referee: Philip Walton (Durham)