Match Ball Sponsor Jean Williams
Man of the Match Sponsor Ian Staverly

Due to the late cancellation of the League fixture with Yarm who were unable to raise a team Winalton were fortunate to pick up a fixture against a Gateshead 2ND Team who are accustomed with playing at Level 7 two leagues above the Vulcans.
This game fulfilled Coach Tony Horsfal’s desire on two fronts. One testing the team’s progress against stronger opposition and secondly giving some of the squad’s ‘fringe players’ the opportunity to state their case for selection.
On a warm and sunny ‘spring like’ afternoon with an excellent playing service it gave the spectators hope for an open game and some good rugby and they were not to be disappointed.

The game kicked off with Winlaton having the advantage of the slope the sun and a slight breeze and they made the best of starts by taking the game to the visitors. They immediately ran the ball up the middle of the field and when the move was halted the ball was quickly recycled and Darren CORNWALL ran blind who fed winger Adam MCGARRY who made a strong run for the line but was stopped short but the ball was fed quickly wide and second row Lee HARVEY lurking out in the centre crashed over for a great try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by Kevin ALLISON.

Gateshead responded and started a barrage attacks but strong Winlaton defence prevented a score. On 15MINS ALLISON managed to relive the pressure with a long clearance kick and the resulting lineout was won by Kris LAUDER and another barging run by McGARRY took Winlaton to the Gateshead 22 and when stopped he off loaded to HARVEY who was in support to finish off another great try(5PTS)with ALLISON striking the post with the conversion attempt.
The next quarter as in previous weeks saw the Vulcans lapse in their concentration and discipline and began to give a series of needless penalties away culminating in try scorer HARVEY being ‘yellow carded’ for foul play.

As a result Gateshead mounted a series of forward drives towards the Winalton line. Stout defence held them out but on 32MINS the line was breeched when former Winlaton prop Matthew HIRST barged over for a well deserved try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion being kicked. The attacks continued and but good work by CORNWALL in the breakdown temporarily relieved the pressure.

On 37MINS the visitors on the half way line were passing and moving through their three quarters but a loose pass read by Joe JENKINS enabled him to intercept and against the run of play broke through the cover defence to score under the posts (5PTS) + (2PTS)ALLISON converting.

On 38MINS Gateshead responded and more possession to the visitors saw an excellent three quarter movement ending in a converted try. (5PTS) + (2PTS)
HALF TIME 19PTS – 14PTS

From the kick off Winlaton endured the worst of starts a succession of mistakes inviting the visitors to take the lead which they did. On 42MINS the ball was won in the home sides 22 and moved quickly along to the Gateshead winger who scored in the corner (5PTS) the difficult touchline conversion being missed.
This seemed to galvanise the Vulcans and on 50MINS after taking the ball up field through the forwards Gateshead infringed and the penalty was kicked into the Gateshead 10 metre area. The subsequent lineout was secured by Kris GOWLAND and the drive by the forwards saw Raymond MARSHALL scoring (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by ALLISON.

With MARSHALL joining the fray Winlaton began to gain dominance on the scrums but unfortunately this led to what appeared to be a serious injury to the Gateshead prop forward and the game was halted for a considerable time awaiting an ambulance.

It was decided to continue the game on the adjoining pitch and Vulcans seemed to respond to the new environment better than the opposition. On 58MINS saw a great move with the ball being moved from side to side beginning with Jason COWLEY making a 30 metre run up the wing and when the move was halted the ball was quickly recycled along the line and back and wing forward Jon LEE was supporting to finish off a great try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion converted by ALLISON.

Almost from the restart MCGARRY on 60 MINS took the ball in his own 22 and broke through several tackles and was clear to the line but a great last ditch tackle prevented a certain score and the move broke down.
It was all Winalton at this stage with only sporadic attacks by Gateshead being snuffed out to prevent the visitors adding to their score.

ON 70MINS after good approach work by GOWLAND the Vulcans three quarters responded with a series of sweeping attacks with JENKINS and MCGARRY heavily involved but the move broke when Winalton transgressed in the ruck. Gateshead cleared their lines to the halfway line with the resulting penalty.
However LAUDER stole the subsequent lineout and the forwards drove on 10 metres and when scrumhalf Sean PYLE spotted space on the narrow blind side he took off dodging a number defenders and managing to stay in touch to score a fantastic solo opportunist try(5PTS) the difficult touchline conversion being missed.
FULL TIME 38PTS – 19PTS
MAN OF THE MATCH Adam MCGARRY
SCORERS HARVEY 2X TRIES 10PTS, LEE 1TYRY 5PTS,1 TRY JENKINS 5PTS, PYLE 1TRY 5PTS
MARSHALL 1TRY 5PTS ALLISON4xCONVERSIONS 8PTS