TECH 8- 27 Barnard Castle
Final opportunity blown in the wind

With the strong wind blowing directly across the pitch the game started with TECH playing down the bank. They started brightly enough and after only a few minutes they took play into the visitors 22. An initial kick ahead by Cole was chased by Andrew Coutts and together with his full back the forced the Castle player into touch. TECH won the line out but the pack were slow to support a break by Dove and the visitors managed to regain the ball and clear up-field.

On 12 minutes the home side did take the lead. Another drive by the pack saw the visitors penalised at the ruck and Cole stepped up to land the kick from the opposition 10 metre line. Despite being behind the visitors were playing well their pack regularly driving play forward. This coupled with some good breaks and sensible kicking by their impressive fly half was keeping TECH on the back foot.

After 19 minutes the visitors took the lead when a solid scrum gave them the platform to move the ball quickly to their outside centre who crossed for  a try which the fly half then converted. This reversal seemed to sting TECH into action and just two minutes later they regained the lead. Prop Paul Dove found himself in possession just inside the Castle half and with little or no support around him  he opted to kick ahead into the 22 from where the visitors conceded a line out. TECH won the ball and a drive by the pack saw Anthony Cameron cross for an unconverted try.

Twice within the space of a few minutes TECH were awarded penalties as a result of high tackles but the referee was happy just to speak to the players responsible.

With the weather deteriorating rapidly it was important that TECH got back into contention quickly but the game became very scrappy with handling errors from both sides. TECH then made several changes to their line up with Douglas, Robson & Clayton all being replaced within a few minutes. Parker, Stockdale and Jukes taking their places as the home side tried to inject some new life into their performance. Despite the fresh legs the home side were still struggling to get back into the game and with the visitors pack still largely dominant it was hard to see a way back for TECH despite the closeness of the score.

As both sides struggled with the worsening snow handling errors increased and the game became very much a mid-field stalemate. After 19 minutes though Castle virtually clinched the game. The won possession from an attacking line out and the pack drove over the line for another unconverted try.

Despite having an off day TECH kept trying to hit back but the visitors were in no mood to let their hard work go to waste and their defence stood up to everything TECH managed to throw at them. They then added to their lead when TECH were penalised for handling at the ruck and they took full advantage with a good kick. In the final few minutes they added the final nail to TECH's coffin. When the home side lost possession at a scrum the visitors broke quickly to go over for a try which they then converted to take the final score to 8-27.

This was a disappointing display by TECH but that should not detract from the visitors performance which deservedly booked them their place in the final of the competition.