Saturday, 17th February 2007, Lovaine Avenue

Is the title race is back on? Maybe. Whilst Tech will have taken some satisfaction in learning that their win at Lovaine Avenue had coincided with a surprise Wallsend defeat at home to Novocastrians, it might be a touch foolish for Tech’s supporters to pencil in title celebrations for the 14^th of April.

Tech meet the current league leaders next week in what looks set to be a memorable afternoon at Grayfields. A victory in this game will reduce the deficit between Tech and the Tynesiders to just two points. Although the sensible man’s money would still be on the Newcastle club to take the title, their home reversal at the weekend suggests that there may be some hitherto unseen vulnerability in their ranks that might just haunt them in the season run in.

But, first and foremost, Tech must focus on guaranteeing promotion. The flipside to Wallsend’s loss means that Novos are still very much in the promotion race and, after hauling themselves out of the mire after their desperate defeat at Acklam, it would be a terrible shame if Tech were to finish the season with nothing.

If Tech can perform like they did yesterday, especially in the second half, there will be no danger of that happening. This was an ultimately convincing win for the visitors as they fully avenged their chastening loss at home to Whitley Bay at the start of the season. The pack put in one of their best displays of the season as they firmly put their opposite numbers in their place. Not only did Tech maintain a strong advantage in the scrum, WBR scrum half Jonny Gould being called up on three occasions for feeding gives some indication of the home team’s struggles, their work at the ruck was admirable. The abundance of possession allowed the back line to shine with Richard Foster being the chief beneficiary with four well-taken tries.

WBR had started the match brightly as they showed some of the form that had made them look like title challengers not so long ago. Their early dominance was rewarded with a Terry Macauley penalty after Tech had infringed at a ruck. Some poor finishing and gritty WBR defence kept Tech at bay until the 17^th minute when Wallis made amends for two earlier misses with a penalty of his own. But parity was short lived as a calamitous midfield mistake saw the hosts grab the first try of the afternoon. Things seemed fairly safe as Wallis fired a pass out to the centre but confusion between Wilson and Nick Corrigan saw both go for the same ball resulting in a turn over. Quick hands saw the ball shipped out to the wing where Aiden Regan dashed home from 40 metres despite a valiant chase from Carl Brown.

Tech refused to allow the setback to subdue them and continued to plug away at the WBR defence. Some poor handling was frustrating the visitors but on 34 minutes Tech moved in front when, following some good scrummaging, Ian Wilson latched onto a good pass from Wallis and crashed under the posts. The conversion moved Tech 10-8 ahead, a lead they held up to half time.

As in the first half, the hosts began brightly. Macauley missed out on an opportunity to put his team back in front after 48 minutes when he pushed a penalty attempt wide but the hosts continued to play in the knowledge that the game was still up for grabs. But on 54 minutes came a key moment in the game. Having secured what looked like good possession on half way, WBR proceeded to turn the ball over. In similar vein to Regan’s opening try, Tech took advantage of the disorganised defence and the ball was shipped wide to Foster who powered home from half way. Wallis converted to move Tech 9 points clear.

Tech were now playing some of their best rugby of the season and, sensing that they had their hosts in a hole, went for the jugular and were rewarded on 67 minutes when Foster scored a wonderful second try. An excellent kick from his own 22 by Ian Wilson saw Carl Brown race ahead, collect and set up a ruck inside the WBR half. The ball was then spun back for Wallis who, noticing that the far wing was vacant, hoisted a high ball for Foster who gathered superbly, nonchalantly shrugged off the challenge of his marker and powered into the corner.

The productive winger completed his hat trick two minutes later, showing good awareness to finish on the end of a flowing back move and added his fourth in similar fashion three minutes from the end. The two tries notable for the finishing and indeed the moves that preceded them. In a season in which Tech have at times struggled for fluency it made a refreshing change.

Whitely Bay Rockcliff 8 (8)

Try: Regan (20)

Pen: Macauley (4)

Tech 32 (10)

Tries: Wilson (34), Foster (54, 67, 69, 77)

Cons: Wallis (34, 54)

Pen: Wallis (17)

Scoring sequence (WBR listed first):

3-0 (P), 3-3 (P), 8-3 (T), 8-8 (T), 8-10 (C) HT 8-15 (T), 8-17 (C), 8-22 (T), 8-27 (T), 8-32 (T)

Whitley Bay Rockcliff

Tindall, Courtney, Stevenson, Harrison, Regan, Macauley, Gould; Hayton, Neil Mather, Robson, Ashbridge, Carson, Sykes, Bowman, Noel Mather. Reps: Schofield, Haagensen, Thornton (all used)

Scrums 23, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 18, Scrums lost on own put in 5 (0 against head), Pens awarded 9, Kicked at goal 2 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 5, Ran 2, Lines won on own throw 9, Lines lost on own throw 2, Free kicks 0

Tech

Cheshire, Brown, Wilson, Corrigan, Foster, Wallis, Williamson; Dove, Hamilton, Palmer, Jukes, Thompson, Pinchen, Cook, Stockdale. Reps: Cameron, Best, Ward (all used)

Scrums 5, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 5, Scrums lost on own put in 0, Pens awarded 11, Kicked at goal 3 (2 misses), Kicked for touch 3, Ran 5, Lines won on own throw 7, Lines lost on own throw 6, Free kicks 3

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