PONTELAND 10  5  TECH
LAST MINUTE HEARTBREAK FOR TECH

With Colin DICKINSON being forced to cry off TECH had to reshuffle their already weakened side before the kick off. This meant that Ritchie ROBSON came into the side for a rare appearance.

TECH started the game brightly and immediately took play into home territory with a good break up the wing. After five minutes an excellent tackle by BEST saw him steal possession before setting up an attack for TECH. A good position was then lost as the referee awarded a home penalty for handling at the ruck.

TECH then suffered another blow as Chris KNIGHT made a tackle he was accidentally caught by a knee causing a wide cut to his head. As a result he could take no further part in the game and was replaced by Stephen SMART, who himself was returning from injury. Despite the enforced reshuffle the visitors continued to dominate with second row Jim WRAY providing some excellent line out ball. Unfortunately despite all their possession they could not force the breakthrough their play deserved.

On 21 minutes another penalty to TECH saw them take play deep into the home 22. Unfortunately they chose this moment to get their line out wrong and the home side managed to scramble the ball clear.

The TECH pack were well on top but they were being frustrated time and again by the wily old Ponteland number 8 who regularly killed possession or slowed it down. He was regularly spoken to about this by referee Mr Jones but the Cumbrian official opted not to punish him further.

In the final few minutes of the half Ponteland at last showed some sort of attacking intent as their pack launched several drives near the TECH line but committed defence saw them held out. before the ball was cleared upfield.

The half time was reached with the score still standing at 0-0 but TECH had far more cause to be happy with their efforts.

A fine run from FOSTER provided the next danger to the home line. He outstripped several home players before chipping past the cover defence but he lost the race for the touch down and the chance had gone.

The visitors continued to look favourites to score despite the spoiling tactics employed by Ponteland and eventually the break through came. FOSTER was again heavily involved as he caught a kick ahead in his own half and set off on a diagonal run. He then passed on to ROBSON who cleverly delayed his return pass to his winger who had carried on his run. As the defence started to close in on him FOSTER chipped through for team mate Jon COLE who beat the defence to the touchdown. Unfortunately the same player saw his conversion attempt go wide.

TECH's defence stood firm until the 28th minutes when the home side were awarded a penalty just inside the 22 their fly half closing the gap to 3-5.

Both sides knew the next score was crucial and TECH pushed forward looking to clinch the result. More good possession saw them move the ball wide to the left wing where Jon COLE made a determined run for the line only to be stopped agonisingly close. TECH then replaced Stephen SMART who had made a good comeback with Peter HUNTER.

In the 40th minute TECH were reduced to 14 men when Kevin COOK was harshly penalised for handling at the breakdown. The penalty seemed harsh enough but the yellow card after the unpunished repeated offences by the home side made it even more difficult to take. Worse was to come 2 minutes later though as in a last desperate attack by the home team the fly half threw out a looping miss pass to his winger. Jon COLE opted to jump and try and catch the ball but it went over his head to the gleeful winger who ran unopposed over the line for a try which was then converted. The home side then played out the final minute or so to record an unwarranted victory.