Billingham 29 - 25 TECH
Opportunity to secure vital victory lost.

The home side kicked off the game with the benefit of the wind behind them. After just 2 minutes TECH had the first opportunity to open the scoring. An excellent tackle by FOSTER forced  the home player to hang on to the ball and referee ENGLISH awarded the penalty. Gavin ROBINSON saw his effort go wide of the mark. Further good pressure from  the visitors brought another penalty opportunity after 5 minutes as the home centres were caught off side. This time ROBINSON made no mistake to give his side a 0-3 lead.

Following a home attack shortly after this TECH were awarded a scrum following a forward pass. Although they won the ball TECH were unable to clear and the hosts regained possession before an attempted kick in behind the TECH defence ran dead allowing the visitors to regroup.

After 15 minutes TECH again drove forward. Further good pressure saw the home side yet again holding on in a ruck. TECH opted to kick deep into the home half. They kept up the pressure as the ball was moved to CORRIGAN who was eventually held up in the tackle. From the resultant scrum the home side cleared to half way.

TECH were looking the better side although the hosts looked dangerous when counter attacking through their speedy backs. On 20 minutes one such attack seemed to have been brought to an end as Steve JONES pulled off a good tackle. Unfortunately he was adjudged to have failed to release the tackled player and the home side were awarded a penalty which they kicked for a line out only 8 metres short of the TECH line. Good defence  held Billingham at  bay and TECH were able to clear. Another dangerous break by the home  three quarters saw them break clear just minutes later. Steve JONES again got back to tackle turning the man as he did so. Although the tackled player held onto the ball referee ENGLISH again decided that the TECH player had failed to release him and awarded a penalty before showing the skipper a yellow card.

 The home side made the most of the extra man and just a minute later set up a driving maul from which their prop went over for a converted try. Billingham extended their lead within two minutes. A good attack saw them get close to the line where a good defensive tackle seemed to have save the day but they somehow won the ball and crossed for another converted try.

Despite being behind TECH were still well in the game although individual errors were costing them dear. On the half hour it was the home side's turn to be reduced to 14 when their loose head prop was shown a yellow card for an indiscretion during a ruck. The visitors kept trying and took play deep into the home 22 with a penalty. Unfortunately the line out throw was adjudged not straight giving the home side a scrum. Good pressure though saw them keep the home side deep in their own territory. TECH then drove over the line but the referee was badly placed to see if the ball had been touched down and a scrum was awarded. TECH were not to be denied though and shortly afterwards a good drive following a ruck saw Alex BEST drive over for an unconverted try.

It was important that TECH got back into the game quickly and they did so after just 3 minutes. They built up a good position after strong runs by FOSTER and BEST before the latter picked up again at the base of a ruck and powered over. ROBINSON was again unlucky with his conversion attempt.

After 10 minutes of the half Billingham again stretched their lead when their fly half converted a penalty from just inside the visitors 22.

After 16 minutes a home attack was brought to a halt following a crashing tackle by FOSTER. He turned his man over as he hit him and it seemed that in the resulting ruck TECH would win the ball. Unfortunately the official again thought differently and penalised FOSTER for not releasing the tackled player.

After 21 minutes Billingham again attacked through their backs. Nick CORRIGAN was adjudged to have stopped the move illegally. Although  Mr ENGLISH reversed the penalty for a stamp by a home player he was shown a yellow card. On 25 minutes Michael PARKER replaced Dave CHESHIRE at scrum half.

A minute later though Billingham again scored when a number of missed tackles allowed their blind side flanker to cross for a converted try.

From the restart TECH tried to drive forward. Michael PARKER was then punched twice by a Billingham forward and retaliated. Mr ENGLISH then spoke to both players before awarding a penalty against TECH as he had not seen the punches thrown by the home player.

After 32 minutes TECH gave themselves renewed hope. They opted to run a penalty and good support by BEST saw him get possession and drive over for a deserved hat trick of tries. The conversion attempt went wide leaving the score at 29-18.

TECH continued to chase the game but determined defence kept them out. They would not be denied though and as Billingham tried to kick clear  from close to their line the ball was charged down by CORRIGAN who went over to score. ROBINSON added the two points to close the gap to 29 -25.

It seemed that TECH might belatedly clinch the vital win but despite their best efforts in the last few minutes the home side's desperate defence kept them out till the final whistle sounded.

This was another case of what might have been for TECH. Another performance that could well have given them victory was let down by a couple of vital missed tackles. Despite the disappointment of defeat all the players remain positive as they go into the last two games of the season. Whether they manage to escape their first ever relegation  remains to be seen but their team spirit and togetherness bodes well for the future whatever happens.