Saturday, 14th April 2007, Dairy Lane

And so, a year on after their first ever relegation, Tech are back at the top of the Durham and Northumberland league section. Their victory at Dairy Lane on Saturday ensured that it wasn’t just Hartlepool United who were celebrating promotion in the town and, like events occurring over 200 miles south of Houghton, a large contingent of travelling support was on hand to cheer the team to victory and promotion back to division 1 after just a season’s absence.

Victory was not achieved easily and Tech had to withstand a fiery challenge from their hosts, who still had the possibility of relegation hanging over them at kick off, and a few betrayed nerves within their own camp. They managed to overcome both obstacles in impressive fashion.

Trailing 8-6 at half time Tech had looked disjointed for much of the first 40 minutes and coupled with the news that Novocastrians were winning at Guisborough (Novos eventually won 16-13) Tech’s support wore a worried look at the break. But in almost identical fashion to their last promotion outing at Thornensians back in 1999, Tech shrugged off a disappointing first half and settled the game with some controlled rugby encompassing swift attacks and brilliant defensive effort. Alex Best opened the visitor’s try account on 47 minutes and Richard Foster completed a fine season for himself with two superb tries on 68 and 79 minutes. The scores a fitting tribute to his late father Brian who sadly passed away a fortnight ago.

Tech made an impressive start to the game suggesting that the afternoon’s proceedings would be relatively trouble free. Houghton’s kick off was put dead by Jonny Morton giving Tech a scrum on half way. Stephen Stockdale picked from the base and passed to Chris Williamson who tore into the home half. His pass to Jon Cole saw the full back create an overlap for Carl Brown but rather than pass Cole tried to chip ahead. Unfortunately the ball went dead and Houghton escaped.

Following this promising start the nerves felt within the Tech camp began to show with some sloppy handling errors preventing them from gaining any kind of platform. Houghton’s combative front row and determined defence were also giving the visitors a headache and with Tech overcomplicating their moves in an attempt to breach the home resistance the game failed to find a settled rhythm. The stop start opening seemed to suit the home team who made some purposeful early attacks and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 14 minutes. Good work from the home pack saw play moved into the Tech 22 and the ball was spun wide to James Buncle who crashed over in the corner. Morton failed to convert.

The score appeared to wake Tech up and they then proceeded to play some controlled rugby. With the Houghton defence under sustained pressure for the first time in the game the hitherto strong looking pack began to show some weakness with Alex Best and Kevin Cook looking good in the loose. The increase in pressure led to two penalties in the space of three minutes. Phil Wallis converted both attempts with two excellent kicks and after 31 minutes Tech led 6-5.

The lead did not last up till half time and Morton put Houghton back in front with a penalty of his own after 38 minutes meaning Tech trailed at the break.

The opening exchanges of the second period were always likely to be key and crucially Tech were the next team to score with Alex Best grabbing a fine solo effort. Picking up from the base of a ruck the flanker powered through the Houghton defence and marched into the 22. Showing great power and balance Best shrugged off the challenge of two further Houghton tacklers and touched down by the posts. Wallis converted to put Tech 13-8 in front.

The try allowed the visitors to relax slightly and with Tech looking to consolidate their advantage the difference in league positions between the two clubs began to show and Wallis extended his team’s lead with another superb strike on 54 minutes from 40 metres out. Houghton tried to come back but Tech were in no mood to allow their position to slip and a massive defensive effort prevented Houghton from breaking through. The body language of the home players following their failed drive suggested that they knew the game was up and such feelings were vindicated on 68 minutes when Richard Foster scored another blistering try. Houghton had done their best to disrupt a Tech scrum on half way but Stockdale did well to secure possession and established a ruck. The ball was passed to Wallis who beat his man and set up an overlap for Foster. Receiving the ball 40 metres out Foster’s pace did the rest as the winger powered towards the posts and rounded the full back to score.

The best try was yet to come. Refusing to give up Houghton continued to throw the ball around but their adventure proved to be their downfall as a hopeful chip ahead into the Tech 22 was gathered by Jon Cole. Turning on the speed Cole attacked the space in the Houghton defence to precision and sped from his own 22 towards the home goal line. Foster timed his supporting run perfectly and collected Cole’s inside pass to race over for his second try to conclude the afternoon’s events.

Despite a torrid start to the league campaign the Tech hierarchy always maintained that promotion would be achieved by the season’s end with players stating that they would reclaim their place in division 1. They have been true to their word. Happy days are back at Grayfields.

Houghton 8 (8)

Try: Buncle (14)

Pen: Morton (38)

Tech 26 (6)

Tries: Best (47), Foster (68, 79)

Con: Wallis (48)

Pens: Wallis (28, 31, 54)

Scoring sequence (Houghton listed first):

5-0 (T), 5-3 (P), 5-6 (P), 8-6 (P) HT 8-11 (T), 8-13 (C), 8-16 (P), 8-21 (T), 8-26 (T)

Houghton

Scrums 11, Attacking scrums 1, Scrums won on own put in 7, Scrums lost on own put in 4 (3 against head), Pens awarded 10, Kicked at goal 1, Kicked for touch 6, Ran 3, Lines won on own throw 9, Lines lost on own throw 1, Free kicks 3

Tech

Cole, Brown, Donnelly, Wilson, Foster, Wallis, Williamson; Dove, Hamilton, Palmer, Thompson, Howard, Cook, Best, Stockdale. Subs: Corrigan, Cameron, Smart (all used)

Scrums 8, Attacking scrums 0, Scrums won on own put in 6, Scrums lost on own put in 2 (1 against head), Pens awarded 14, Kicked at goal 4 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 8, Ran 2, Lines won on own throw 8, Lines lost on own throw 3, Free kicks 1

Referee: Keith Muir (Durham)