The end of an era was signalled on Saturday with Tech taking to the pitch surrounded by new permanent, steel fencing, replacing the temporary rope fencing that has graced the pitch for many years. The new structure, erected by loyal, hard working members of the Hartlepool club looked the part on what was an entertaining afternoon of rugby. But sadly whilst the new installation made a nice change at Grayfields, for Tech and their supporters the end was all too familiar, close but not close enough.
Perhaps the most crucial phase of this fast paced encounter was the opening 20 minutes of the game when observers were given a glimpse of some of the most open rugby seen at Grayfields for quite some time. By the time 20 minutes had elapsed, the score stood at 20-10 in favour of Ponteland with no fewer than 4 tries being scored. 3 of them went to the visitors as they gave a perfect demonstration of how to run and distribute the ball at pace. Whilst Ponteland’s mastery of these basic rugby skills was to be commended, Tech’s defence in the opening 20 minutes ranged from poor to downright ghastly. It’s true that if a team runs the ball at you convincingly with both conviction and purpose, disorder can set in but even so the hosts did not help themselves with huge gaps and missed tackles helping Ponteland on their way.
Tech’s lapses were evident as early as the 5th minute when centres McKendrick and Reed combined to take play into the home 22. A penalty at a ruck gave the visitors the chance to kick to the corner and from the line hooker Francois Koen joined the maul to grab the score.
Worse was to follow for Tech when just 3 minutes later the centre combination saw the ball cleverly manoeuvred to the wing where Charlie Blow seemed set to race home. Cole managed to haul the winger down just short but with support at hand, back rower Hughes was eventually sent over.
Tech then responded with a fine try of their own through David Cheshire after good work from props Thompson and Howard but Ponteland restored the 10 point lead almost immediately when a break from a scrum saw Lee Oakes sent clear for a maximum score.
Cole and Turnbull exchanged penalties to take the score to 20-10 before more weak tackling, coupled with some fancy footwork from Jonathan Varley saw the winger grab his team’s fourth try of the afternoon.
Cole reduced the deficit to 25-13 on 26 minutes with a penalty and for the remainder of the half, Tech enjoyed some good territory and possession with pressure being applied to the Ponteland line. A try at the end of the half may have proved key but although Tech were denied here, they didn’t have to wait long after the break to cross for try number two.
Having withstood an almighty charge from the visitors at the start of the half, Tech put together some good rugby to take them up the field into Ponteland’s 22. Then after both Knight and Foster had come close to scoring, a tap penalty in front of the posts saw Jim Scott nip over for his first league try for the club.
At 25-18 down the game was very much on and with pressure mounting on Ponteland it seemed likely that Tech would level the match before long. But the visitors always looked dangerous in open play and some more good play from their backline saw them move into the Tech 22. Here they made their visit count when following a quickly taken tap penalty, scrum half and captain Raine barged over in the corner.
Trying as hard as they had done all match, Tech fought back and a mere 6 minutes later another newcomer to the club, Richard Foster was on hand to collect his first try for the club following some more impressive play from the home team.
The tension was building as the game entered the final 10 minutes with both sides making unforced errors. Ponteland seemed content to play out the remaining of the match but then on 75 minutes, they got what most felt would be the final try. A scrum on the home 22 saw the ball passed to Stuart Reed who was immediately wrapped up by Jim Dickenson. Crucially though, the centre was able to offload a pass and following a chip over the top Michael McKendrick collected to score.
The game was effectively up but there was still time for Carl Brown to score under the posts following a late home surge.
So another defeat for Tech but positive signs are still radiating from the Wiltshire Way outfit. Tech never look that far away from being one of the leagues more successful teams and in all games bar the derby with Horden, they have competed well and crucially they are scoring points and tries. If just a little more discipline can be added to the current formulae, the elusive first win will come sooner rather than later.
Tech 30
Tries: Cheshire (10), Scott (50), Foster (66), Brown (83)
Cons: Cole (10, 83)
Pens: Cole (15, 26)
Ponteland 35
Tries: Koen (5), Hughes (8), Oakes (13), Varley (23), Raine (60), McKendrick (75)
Cons: Turnbull (13)
Pens: Turnbull (18)
Tech
Knight, Cole, Jones (c), J Dickenson, Bulmer (Foster), Cheshire, Williamson, Dove, Dixon, Howard, Thompson, Brown, Hunter (C Dickenson), Scott, Smart, Sub not used: Parker
Scrums 10, Attacking scrums 4, Scrums won on own put in 8, Scrums lost on own put in 2, Pens awarded 19, Kicked for goal 2, Kicked for touch 4, Ran 13, Lines won on own throw 6, Lines lost on own throw 3
Ponteland
Oakes, Varley, Reed (Gallon), McKendrick, Blow, Turnbull, Raine (c), Jobling, Koen (Ogilvie), Nelson, Bower, Ringrose, Harrison, Hughes, Kelly
Scrums 9, Attacking scrums 4, Scrums won on own put in 9, Pens awarded 7, Kicked for goal 2 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 4, Ran 1, Lines won on own throw 5, Lines lost on own throw 4
Referee: Mike Hodgson (Durham)