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BBOB 13 - 25 TECH
TECH make Cup progress

TECH overcame stubborn opposition from neighbours BBOB at the Old Friarage on Saturday and as a result moved into the semi - final stage of the Durham County Junior Cup competition where they play host to Barnard Castle next Saturday..

The first half was dominated in the main by the visitors who built up a 3-20 lead by half time as time and again they cut through the home defence. It was the home side that opened the scoring when after just 2 minutes referee Dave Sawyer penalised TECH at the breakdown and the hosts took full advantage. TECH tried to hit back immediately and a good forward drive took play deep into the home 22 but carelessness saw them lose possession and a good defensive kick took play back towards halfway. TECH were not to be denied long though and they levelled the scores when Paul Dove converted a penalty chance from 22 metres. After 14 minutes more good TECH forward play saw them drive over the Brigade line but it was adjudged they had been held up. From the subsequent scrummage number 8 Anthony Cameron picked up and drove over for an unconverted try.

After last weeks first win TECH were showing more confidence and they were playing some decent rugby with both backs and forwards combining well. This was rewarded after 20 minutes when a good break by Corrigan from his own 22 saw him give a good pass to David Cheshire who made further progress before linking with flanker Richard Robson who then gave the scoring pass to winger David Mullen who crossed for a try. Dove's conversion attempt was just wide of the target leaving the score at 3-13. The game then re-started with a penalty to TECH after referee Sawyer penalised the home side for talking out of turn.

TECH were eager to add to their score but at times this led to them sometimes trying to force the final pass when a better option would have been to set it up again. On 24 minutes they did score again. Good pressure at the scrum made things difficult for the hosts and when the ball squirted out quickly Colin Douglas was first to react, picking up and crossing for a simple try. Dove added the extra points.

Right on half time it looked as if TECH would again score. A good break by Robson saw him pass to Anthony Cameron. He made ground before throwing an overhead to pass to Carl Brown who had a clear run to the line. Unfortunately for the visitors Mr Sawyer who was some yards behind the breaking TECH players decided the final pass had been forward leaving the score at the break standing at 3-20

Having played into the wind in the first period it looked as if TECH could build on their total if they could use the elements to their advantage during the second period. Unfortunately due to a mixture of unforced errors and some good play by Brigade this was not to be. The half started well as a good run by Mark Lund took TECH deep into the home half. He passed to Andrew COUTTS who crossed the line but determined defence held him up and the chance was gone. Just minutes later though TECH were rewarded when another good break saw Cameron make ground before passing to Lund who went over in the left hand corner. The attempted conversion was just short of the target.

TECH then made changes to their line up as Colin Douglas came off to be replaced by Michael Parker, Anthony Cameron was replaced by Sean Cooper and Neil Ladyman replaced Andy Palmer. Both teams were finding difficulty with Mr Sawyers interpretation of the laws and this led to frustration for a number of players and even the official who at one point seemed to lose patience with Brigades skipper as he explained a decision he had given.

'TECH had started to let their concentration slip and the home side were keen to grasp any opportunity they were given. This led to them building up pressure and as they won possession from a scrum they moved the ball to the winger who went over for an unconverted try. They closed the gap further after 25 minutes when from another scrum Brigade ran the ball to cross for another unconverted score.

It was essential that TECH tried to get back to how they had been playing in the first half in order to take the sting out of the home side but this was made more difficult as scrum half Siddle was yellow carded. The game then became very scrappy with numerous stoppages for minor infringements. TECH then lost prop Neil Ladyman who received a blow to the face. Andy Palmer who had earlier been replaced by Ladyman returned to the field. In the closing minutes TECH regained some of their lost poise and they played out the game to record a 13 - 25 victory.

After an excellent first half display it was disappointing that TECH did not carry on in the same fashion in the second period. Nevertheless after what has been such a difficult season there were a number of positives to take from the performance. |As well as some good interplay between backs and forwards the side held on defensively after a shaky period and fully justified their progression to the semi - final stage of the competition.