TECH 20 - 21 NORTHERN
83rd MINUTE DROP GOAL STEALS WIN FROM TECH

Within 3 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty when a TECH player was  adjudged not to have rolled away after making a tackle. Northern made progress upfield and were then awarded a kickable penalty as the home backs were caught offside in their own 22. Centre SCOTT slotted the kick to give his side a 0-3 lead.

TECH stormed back quickly and a fine attack saw the ball moved wide to the left. This led to Steve JONES and Richard FOSTER both being stopped agonisingly short before the ball was recycled again by TECH. Good handling saw the ball moved across to the pitch before Mixie PARKER put a hanging kick out to the  right wing for Jon COLE to chase. Unfortunately the ball bounced into touch before he could collect it.

On 11 minutes TECH took the lead. Good forward pressure saw them take play into the visitors 22 and from the ensuing ruck Alex BEST picked up and drove over for the try. Jon COLE added the extra points.

TECH were playing with a lot of confidence and were quickly back on the attack. The pack again were much to the fore as they drove close to the Northern line. Several times just as it looked as if they must score the desperate visiting defence pull down the maul and killed the ball but despite speaking to the players responsible the referee decided not to penalise them further. Despite the sustained pressure TECH could not force the breakthrough and Northern eventually took play to safety.

After 24 minutes TECH were reduced to 14 men when Nick CORRIGAN was yellow carded. The centre had been involved in two tackles in quick succession inside the visitors half and had obviously done something not to the referee's liking. Despite being reduced to 14 TECH added to their score after 30 minutes. A good drive by Kevin COOK and Anthony CAMERON saw them take play into the visitors 22. They won the subsequent line out after which Northern were caught offside. Jon COLE converted the penalty chance to take the score to 10-3.

From the kick off though Northern hit back immediately as TECH were guilty of missing several tackles. Although they managed to bring the initial move to a halt, the Northern pack recycled the ball and drove over for the try. SCOTT added the extra points.

The scoring continued as this time TECH  added to their total from the re-start. Possession was regained from the kick off and Chris WILLIAMSON made a fine break. The forwards took the ball on further  before Alex BEST drove over for his second try. Jon COLE again converted to take the score to 17-10

The second half started disastrously for TECH as within 7 minutes they lost two players to injury. Immediately from the kick off Chris WILLIAMSON received a nose injury and left the field to get the bleeding stopped. Although he came back after a couple of minutes TECH were then forced into a change as second row Jim WRAY suffered a back injury. No sooner had replacement Steven SMART got on the field when WILLIAMSON suffered a shoulder injury which forced him off for good. He was replaced by Colin DICKINSON.

TECH were defending well but finding themselves on the wrong end of a lot of the referee's decisions around the ruck areas. After 12 minutes the referee blew for another penalty and whilst he was talking to players from both sides the visiting scrum half DOVEY took a quick tap before running through to score. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 17-15.

Both sides were looking to try and add to their total but determined defence kept opportunities to a minimum. On 22 minutes the visitors did take the lead. Yet another penalty 20 metres out gave SCOTT another opportunity which he happily took.

Just a minute later TECH were awarded their first penalty of the half 15 metres from the visitors line after a good forward drive. Jon COLE confidently added the three points to give his side a narrow 20-18 lead.

The visitors were becoming desperate as everything they were throwing at the TECH defence was being dealt with. With the home pack on top the visitors kept trying to use their pacy backs to break through even opting to run a number of penalties they were awarded in kickable positions. Despite all their efforts the home side kept them out effectively and regularly took play back upfield.

Despite the fact that they had a number of players receiving injuries TECH continued to cope with the visiting attacks with every player putting his body on the line. As the sides reached injury time it seemed that TECH were to record a well deserved victory. Tragically though this was not to be and in the 43rd minute of the half the Northern pack won a ruck from which the ball was moved to their fly half who dropped a goal to break the home sides heart.

This was an undeserved reversal for TECH after a performance that deserved so much more, a view expressed by players and supporters of Northern alike.