TECH 15 - 19 NORTHERN
TECH entertained Northern on Saturday as they played their delayed Durham/Northumberland Division 1 game. The home side suffered two set backs prior to kick off when both skipper Steve JONES and Tinker WILLIAMSON were forced to cry off due to injury. As a result Carl BROWN came in on the wing with Chris WILLIAMSON replacing brother Paul.
Referee Mike HODGSON got the game underway with the visitors playing down the bank with the strong wind in their favour. Within a couple of minutes visiting full back SUTHERLAND use the wind to full advantage as he drove TECH back deep into their own 22 from well inside his own half. TECH though showed their mettle as using their pack to good effect they drove upfield. Despite being held in their own half TECH were displaying some determined and well drilled defence which kept the visitors speedy back division well in check.
After 6 minutes the crowd and both sides were treated to the sight of the match official falling on to his backside as he was running backwards. To his credit he immediately saw the funny side and brought a smile to the faces of all by stating it wasn't the first time he had been on his backside at Grayfields.
On 12 minutes another attack from the visitors saw them take the lead when good footwork from centre Adam BINDMAN saw break through the defence to score a good try. The same player then added the conversion to take the score to 0-7. Despite this blow TECH kept playing well with the pack consistently making good ground with some powerful, controlled surges. From such a period of good play a powerful run by Neil MASON saw him bullock his way past a would be tackler. This led to Northern transgressing at the ruck and Ashley PARKER made no mistake with an excellent kick into the teeth of the wind to close the gap to 3-7.
After 24 minutes TECH took a well deserved lead. Forward pressure had again gained a penalty which was quickly taken. Ashley PARKER then side stepped his way through the cover for a fine try. Unfortunately James MASSHEDAR could not add the extra points as his attempted conversion went wide.
TECH continued to frustrate the visitors who, each time they moved the ball through their backs looked capable of causing trouble for the home side. On 34 minutes the visitors attack clicked and good handling and interplay between forwards and backs saw them break through before the ball was moved to full back SUTHERLAND who scored an unconverted try. TECH then crucially went to sleep at the restart allowing the Northern to regain the ball. Quick inter-passing coupled with a couple of missed tackles then saw them add another converted try to their total. Shocked by this reversal TECH again drove up-field but despite all their efforts they were unable to add to their total and the sides reached half time with the score standing at 8-19.
The home side started the second period determined to close the gap and within 3 minutes they were pressing the visitors line.From a penalty they opted for the scrum but their drive was halted as they were held up on the line. The pressure continued and further scrums saw the visitors just manage to hold on through a mixture of dogged defence and cynical killing of the ball. On 7 minutes TECH though they had scored as Kevin COOK picked up at the base of the scrum. It appeared as though he had crossed the line and the referee appeared to indicate the try only to disappoint the TECH players and supporters by awarding a penalty to Northern for a double movement.
TECH continued to pressurise the visitors line but time and again they were left frustrated. On 18 minutes they again looked as if they would score. Jon COLE kicked ahead from just inside the Northern half. He followed his kick and outpaced the defence but the ball travelled inches over the dead ball line as he reached it and touched it down. The TECH pack were causing all kinds of difficulties for their counterparts both in the loose and at the set scrum and on 27 minutes another great effort saw them destroy an opposition scrum forcing them to touch down behind their own line. The pressure had to pay off eventually and on 32 minutes another scrum saw Kevin COOK pick up at the base before making good ground. He then slipped a good pass to Chris WILLIAMSON who crossed for a try which James MASSHEDAR converted.
The TEC H side sensed that the game was there for the taking and they continued to press. This pressure led to them being awarded a number of penalties within 10 metres of the try line. At one stage the visitors transgressed no less than 4 times as TECH opted to take scrums when awarded the penalty. On the fourth occasion when it looked likely they would be awarded a penalty try Mr. HODGSON decide to sin bin the visiting number 8 TURNBULL but opted to give another penalty. Although TECH pressed again the defence managed to scramble the ball clear and the opportunity was lost.
Despite this disappointment TECH kept driving forward at every opportunity but to their credit Northern managed to frustrate them with further frantic defence. Another good break by WILLIAMSON saw him pass wide to Carl BROWN but he was tackled into touch 5 metres short of the line. The scrum half was then injured and was replaced by Mixie PARKER. The pressure continued but it was not to be TECH's day and the visitors held on for what was in the end a fortunate victory.
Despite the disappointment of this reversal it was another improved display by TECH and hopefully a similar performance next week can see them return to winning ways when Ryton are their visitors.