Saturday 27th January 2007, Talbot Park

Acklam, on their home patch, are a bad habit that Tech simply cannot kick. Ten years after their last league victory at the Middlesbrough location, Tech turned in another feeble display, the type that has become synonymous with their presence at Talbot Park. Quite what it is that makes Tech freeze at this ground remains unknown but this lousy defeat could well prove to be a pivotal moment in the promotion race, let alone the battle to usurp Wallsend as the league leaders.

Novocastrians' defeat at Winlaton means that Tech are still second but with Whitley Bay Rockcliff winning at home to Seaton Carew, the gap between Tech and the other promotion contenders is now down to just one point. What’s more, the gap between Wallsend and Tech remains at four points. The league leader’s postponed game with Yarm at the weekend means they now have a game in hand on their rivals. Victory in the rearranged game could spell the end for the title race as a contest.

Should this eventuate it might be wholly appropriate because this game, the early season game against Whitley Bay aside, marked Tech’s poorest league display of the season. Certainly it was not the performance you would expect from a team making a serious assault on the league title. The opening exchanges suggested a change in fortunes for Tech on this ground as they made some promising early raids into the Acklam half. But Tech, this early siege aside, spent the rest of the half chasing shadows. The powerful downfield wind, coupled with the clever play of Acklam fly half Danny Ashton, meant that Tech were always on the back foot and with Acklam’s forwards having the better of the forward battle, the home team were allowed to dictate the flow of play with embarrassing ease.

A fine penalty kick to touch set the platform for the host’s first try on 16 minutes. Good ball was secured by Acklam and good interplay between forwards and backs saw play rumbled up to the Tech line. After the ball was killed at the subsequent ruck, Acklam took the penalty quickly and Andy Bailes was on hand to stretch over for the opening try. Ashton converted.

Acklam’s dominance upfront was beginning to take it’s toll with space being created for the home back line to make progression into the Tech half. Outside centre Mableson was a constant menace for Tech with his runs always making yards for the home team. Ashton’s boot continued to keep the pressure on Tech to maximum and such pressure eventually saw the hosts extend their lead on 24 minutes. Another successful lineout from Acklam was mauled up to the line and although it looked like Tech had defended the drive, Bailes defied their resistance to grab his second try. Ashton again improved the score.

Could things get any worse for Tech? Of course they could. Poor play from the forwards on half way saw possession coughed up and after Ashton had propelled the ball back into the Tech 22, the onrushing defence charged down Richard Foster’s attempted clearance. Having initiated the attack with his kick, Ashton then finished off the subsequent drive by collecting the final pass to cross by the posts. Surprisingly he missed the conversion but with just 26 minutes gone his team were already out of sight at 19 nil.

Ashton punished Tech further on 29 minutes with a well-struck penalty to take his team 22 points clear. Acklam full back David Ashton then appeared to have put his team’s fourth try on the board on 34 minutes when a well executed move from an attacking scrum saw him collect a pass to sail over. Referee Phil Shaw, however, adjudged that the scoring pass had been forward but despite this setback, Acklam were able to increase their lead shortly after when Ashton added his second penalty.

An early score was vital if Tech were going to have any hope of reviving their fortunes and, to give them credit, they started well. Wallis went narrowly wide with a penalty attempt on 46 minutes and moments later a cheeky little grubber kick from the fly half nearly set up a try for Nick Donnelly. The centre being beaten to the touchdown by the covering defender.

But Acklam were next to score on 57 minutes, a score that effectively sealed the game.  A good scrum from the home team saw them take Tech ball against the head and, after a late tackle in the resultant attack, Ashton slotted his third penalty of the afternoon.

There was time for Tech to rally and add a measure of respectability to the score line with two tries for Carl Brown on 63 and 69 minutes. The first try being scored after he gathered a superb cross-field kick from Wallis, the same player converting, and the second coming after a free kick had been taken quickly and shipped out wide to the stocky winger. Brown showing good strength and speed to beat the defenders to the corner.

Both tries were well taken and the preceding play that led to the scores gave a glimpse of Tech’s true capabilities on the field. It was a pity that moments like them were few and far between.

Acklam 28 (25)

Tries: Bailes (16, 24), Danny Ashton (26)

Cons: Danny Ashton (16, 24)

Pens: Danny Ashton (29, 40 (+2), 57)

Tech 12 (0)

Tries: Brown (63, 69)

Con: Wallis (63)

Scoring sequence (Acklam listed first):

5-0 (T), 7-0 (C), 12-0 (T), 14-0 (C), 19-0 (T), 22-0 (P), 25-0 (P) HT 28-0 (P), 28-5 (T) 28-7 (C) 28-12 (T)

Acklam

David Ashton, Dunn, Mableson, Pain, Render, Danny Ashton, Roberts; Donegan, Murray, Bailes, Cruickshank, Savage, Chambers, Blackett, Thackeray. Sub used: Coxon

Scrums 14, Attacking scrums 2, Scrums won on own put in 11, Scrums lost on own put in 3 (3 against head), Pens awarded 12, Kicked at goal 5 (2 misses), Kicked for touch 6, Ran 1, Lines won on own throw 10, Lines lost on own throw 2, Free Kicks 1

Tech

Cole, Brown, Donnelly, Corrigan, Foster, Wallis, Williamson; Palmer, Hamilton, Dove, Thompson, Campbell, Cook, Pinchen, Best. Subs used: Cameron, Cheshire. Sub not used: Bulmer.

Scrums 12, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 10, Scrums lost on own put in 2, Pens awarded 12, Kicked at goal 2 (2 misses), Kicked for touch 5, Ran 4, Scrummed 1, Lines won on own throw 8, Lines lost on own throw 7, Free kicks 1

Referee: Phil Shaw (Yorkshire)