GATESHEAD 20 - 12 TECH
Brave forward effort just not enough for visitors.

The visitors made a late change to their line up with Jon COLE having to cry off. Ashley PARKER came into the side in the unusual position for him of winger.

Gateshead kicked off the game but the ball did not travel 10 metres leading to an early scrummage. This in turn led to a TECH penalty as the Gateshead front row dropped to the floor to foil the powerful visiting drive. The hosts then showed their intentions as they recovered  a  loose ball to break upfield through their three quarters. The danger was brought to a halt by a vital tap tackle by FOSTER from which the ball was spilled forward.

After 5 minutes TECH's backs showed their pace. The ball was quickly passed along the line to FOSTER who broke up the wing only to be tackled into touch some 5 metres from the line.

TECH's pack were proving a handful for the home side and set up a number of good positions through their powerful surges. On 8 minutes a penalty to TECH saw them kick for the line out deep in the home 22. From this a good surge took them close but the Gateshead defence held out before winning a defensive scrum to clear upfield.

The sides showed a total contrast in their strengths with the home side using their backs who always looked sharp whilst TECH relied mainly on their pack. On 16 minutes Gateshead took the lead thanks to their three quarters. A missed tackle allowed  centre David TATE to make  a clever break and he made the most of his good fortune by crossing for a try. Fly half FOSTER added the extra points with a simple conversion.

TECH had a chance to hit back just minutes later when they were awarded a penalty 24 metres out. Unfortunately Ashley PARKER saw his attempt go wide. The visitors then fell further behind when FOSTER managed to convert a penalty at the other end. He did the same again after 28 minutes after TECH were penalised for handling at a ruck.

It was important that the visitors hit back as quickly as possible if they were to get back into the game. The should have closed the gap on the half hour. They were awarded a kickable penalty just outside the 22 which they opted to run. No advantage was gained and the referee brought them back to the original mark. When it seemed obvious they should take the three points they again opted to run the ball which they knocked on in a tackle and the chance was lost. They had another penalty opportunity after 35 minutes, but this more difficult opportunity some 10 meters in the home half dropped short of the mark despite a good contact by Ashley PARKER.

TECH were continuing to work hard as the sides approached half time but their cause wasn't helped as they lost second row JUKES with a calf injury. ROBSON joined the game which resulted in a reshuffle in the pack, DICKINSON moving up to the second row.

After 6 minutes TECH looked like scoring again. A good break saw them take play into the home 22. As they broke through with only two desperate defenders trying to cover referee Hudson strangely blew his whistle and awarded TECH a penalty before issuing a yellow card to home second row ARKLE. The did not have long to wait before adding to their total. On 8 minutes Alex BEST picked up from a scrum. He drove on before pasing on to COOK who was again in support. Ashley PARKER added the extra points to take the score to 13-12.

Sensing the chance to take full advantage of the extra man TECH picked up their effort with the pack hammering at their opposite numbers. However,  even though they kept up the pressure they could not breach the determined Gateshead defence despite going close.

The home side although under pressure still looked dangerous when their backs were in possession and they regularly tried to run out of defence. After 15 minutes another home attack took play into the TECH half. As they broke Andrew DIXON was adjudged guilty of taking out a player before he was in possession of the ball and he received a yellow card.

Handling mistakes by both sides, coupled by the fact that referee Hudson opted to blow up quickly at every breakdown before either side could recycle the ball meant that chances were at a premium. It seemed that the next score would settle the game and unfortunately it came from Gateshead. On the half hour another piece of individual skill from David TATE saw him again break through the visiting defence to score under the posts. FOSTER again converted to take the score to 20-12.

Despite being behind TECH kept battling but again, though having plenty of possession they could find no way through a determined home rearguard. Try as they might a number of last ditch tackles kept TECH from closing the gap.

With a number of stoppages for injury spectators from both sides were expecting eight or nine minutes of injury time but as it turned out the official played just five leaving TECH frustrated that they had lost a game they could well have won.

On the positive side the team again showed excellent spirit throughout. If they can couple this with some more clinical finishing and take the points when given the chance with kickable penalties they will no doubt cause difficulties for their opposition in the games to come.