Spirited Seaton Unable To Stop Ryton Rampage

Seaton's woes continue to mount. With multiple injuries, retirements from the game, players leaving the club, unavailability through work commitments and a rising lack of interest in several quarters they have suffered some catastrophic defeats. Two features, however, have been prominent throughout the season. The never say die attitude of all those who have taken the field and, because of this, in the traditional rugby union manner, the respect and appreciation shown by the majority of opposition teams.

This home fixture against Ryton started in the now all too familiar pattern with the concession of a second minute try. The Tynesiders racked up a further six tries at regular intervals before half time interspersed only by a mazy run from number 8 Murry Stockdale and a superb conversion from scrum-half Cameron Lithgo. At times the seasiders showed that they could be a threat at close quarters but the visitors had too much pace and guile out wide. Ryton's kicker had certainly brought his kicking boots for in difficult conditions he slotted five conversions -out of a final tally of eleven-to take a 45-7 lead into the interval.

The visitors picked up eight more tries in the second period (some of them extremely well crafted) and, with little or poor possession from the set piece compounded by so many playing in unfamiliar positions, it was difficult to see from where Seaton could produce a scoring opportunity. To a man, however, they gave their all and after a couple of tapped penalties close to the line flanker Shaun McBean was adjudged to have been held up. From the resulting crumbling scrum Stockdale emerged to crash over the whitewash for a twenty-fifth minute try. The dying minutes of the game saw Seaton pressuring the visitors' line and again following a series of tapped penalties Stockdale powered over for his hat trick.