TECH 0 -v- 20 GATESHEAD
TECH suffered another frustrating defeat at the week-end when after another performance that had for long stages promised much they finally succumbed to an enterprising Gateshead side.
TECH started the game kicking away from the clubhouse end hoping for a positive start. As it was the visitors were first to look dangerous but an excellent tackle by Adam RYAN brought the danger to a halt.
TECH then started to get into the game with some powerful forward surges from the pack. One such drive saw a good run by Stockdale followed by another by THOMPSON take play into the opponents territory before the danger was cleared.
Although TECH were just on top in the forward exchanges at this point, the speedy visiting backs looked dangerous whenever they got the ball especially in broken play. From such a passage of play their outside centre made a good break taking his side deep into the TECH 22.This led to two line outs for the visitors but at both the home side stole possession and managed to take play back up field.
After 20 minutes an attempted clearance by home fly half David CHESHIRE was charged down just on the 22 put Chris KNIGHT was awake to the danger and cleaned up the loose ball.
On 23 minutes the back luck TECH have suffered recently again reared it's head. An attack by the visitors saw them move the ball along the line. As it reached the centre he clearly knocked the ball forward at least two feet before regaining possession just 20 meters front of the posts Unfortunately the only person who had not been in a position to see what happened was referee Andy McDonough (Northumberland) who allowed the player to continue over for a try which was easily converted to open up a 7 point gap.
TECH refused to be down and came back at their visitors but although they again had the majority of possession they were unable to turn it into points. After 30 minutes their task was made even harder when scrum half WILLIAMSON had to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Nigel BULMER replaced him going on the wing. The resultant reshuffle saw Jon COLE go to full back and Chris KNIGHT to scrum half. TECH continued to push but didn't have things all their own way as flanker SCOTT pulled off a fine defensive tackle 5 meters from the goal line as the visiting backs again took play forward.
On 35 minutes TECH fell further behind when the were penalised for picking up the ball at a ruck although it looked clearly out. This didn't matter though as the Gateshead scrum half easily added the 3 points.
In the final minutes of the half TECH piled forward. They opted to run a couple of penalties wide out on the left but just as it seemed their ambition would be rewarded they were stopped short and the visitors hung on till the half time whistle.
The second half started in similar fashion with TECH desperate to score. As it was Gateshead defended strongly and after 6 minutes extended their lead. A high kick ahead was followed up by their inside centre who collected the ball well in the air before evading the cover to score. The conversion took the score to 0-17.
Despite trailing the TECH spirit was again good and they kept driving forward but a mixture of handling errors and good visitors defence kept them at bay. 22 minutes into the half TECH suffered a double injury blow as both prop Adam HOWARD and centre Nick CORRIGAN had to leave the field. They were replaced by Colin DICKENSON and Carl BROWN. Before the side could re-settle they fell further behind when Gateshead added another 3 points courtesy of a penalty on 25 minutes.
Although it did not look to be their day the home side kept playing some good rugby which saw the visiting defence at full stretch. Unfortunately the referee was in lenient mood and despite their regularly killing the ball whenever TECH got close the visitors were allowed to continue in the same vein denying the home side the score their play merited. Amazingly with only three minutes to go Mr. McDONOUGH decided he'd had enough and yellow carded a visiting forward for again handling at a ruck. Despite the man advantage in these last few minutes TECH couldn't cross the line and Gateshead took the points.
Frustratingly this was another game were the home side promise led to nought try as they might. A plus point though was the excellent commitment and spirit they showed throughout, strengths that they will need to continue to show as they battle to get away from the bottom end of the table.