Again it was all change for Coach Tony HORSFAL due to a huge swathe of injuries. But on the bright side he was able to give a debut to Martin SCOTT at centre who has in the past represented Denmark at International Level and Joe JENKINS on the wing returning after long term injury. He also had to call on veteran prop Scott URWIN for his first competitive game of the season.

The weather was fine and sunny, the playing surface was good and with a slight breeze blowing down field advantage was to the visitors who were playing down the slope in the first half.

The first 10MINS of the first half saw both sides tentatively testing each other out with neither side being able to gain the ascendency however Liam BOOTH fielded a kick from Seaton Carew and made a great forceful run of about 40metres but was just bundled into touch just short of the line.

This seemed to galvanise Winlaton and they began a series of attacks on the Seaton Carew defence with good forward movement between Scott URWIN, David SCOTT and Dominic NEALE prominent and also some good yardage being made by centre Stephen WELTON and the new man Martin SCOTT.

On 20MINS the pressure was rewarded when the visitors transgressed and Winlaton were awarded a penalty in their 22 in front of the posts. The offer of the points was declined and they kicked for the positive lineout. This signalled a sustained attack on the Seaton Carew defence with a number of Winlaton players being stopped just short of the line but strong organised tackling by their opponents prevented a score and they eventually cleared their lines.
As a result Winlaton seemed to lose their impetus and started to give away a series of needless penalties and for the next quarter of the game they allowed Seaton Carew to build up their game of running, passing and offloading a style which they continued playing throughout the game.

On 30MINS Winlaton lost a scrum against the head in their 22 and Seaton Carew picked up and drove over for a try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion being kicked.

It was more of the same and on 36MINS another break through the Winlaton defence saw Mark SEDDON’s tap tackle preventing another certain try. But the last play of the half saw the Vulcans failing to find touch with a defence clearing kick and again the visitors with a series of excellent three-quarter plays scored another converted try(5PTS) + (2PTS)

HALF TIME 0PTS- 14PTS
Winalton substituted Sean PYLE for Kevin ALLISON at scrumhalf at the commencement of the second half.

For the next 5MINS the game started with Seaton Carew continuing as they had left off. Constant pressure was exerted on the Winlaton defence but with NEALE and David SCOTT tackling aggressively the lines were cleared

This seemed to inspire the Vulcans and for the next quarter they hit a ‘purple patch’ when they made a spectacular comeback scoring three tries and a penalty which seemed to put them in a commanding lead.
Firstly on 49MINS after a line out was won Gareth HENDERSON drove around the back and fed JENKINS who in turn passed to debutant Martin SCOTT who cut a great line through the visitors defence to score under the posts(5PTS) + (2PTS)the kick converted by Adam HOUSTON.

The excellent play continued and on 55MINS from a scrum on the half way line PYLE made a break and ran 30 metres and moved the ball along to first WELTON then JENKINS but the move broke down. From the resultant scum the ball was moved quickly across the backline for Martin SCOTT to score his second try (5PTS) + (2PTS) HOUSTON again converting.
Seaton Carew seemed to have no answer to Winlaton’s sustained intensity and on 60MINS after a another forceful forward drive up the middle involving Martin WOOD, NEALE and PYLE resulted in a lineout which was won by the Vulcans .HENDERSON broke through the resultant ruck and found himself with a clear run to the line for another try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the kick again converted by HOUSTON.

At last Seaton Carew responded and on 69MINS they worked their way up field and from a line out on the Winlaton 10 metre area they drove over to score an unconverted try (5PTS).

The Vulcans made and instant riposte where from the kick-off the visitors transgressed and from 40 metere HOUSTON kicked a magnificent penalty (3PTS)

However the visitors with due credit never gave up and with Winlaton failing to find touch on a number of line/pressure relieving kicks they gave their opponents the opportunities to run the ball back at the home sides tiring defence and on 75MINS they scored an equalising try (5PTS) + (2PTS) the difficult conversion striking the inside of the posts and flopping over to take the lead. It was more of the same by Seaton Carew with the Vulcans like Custer’s Last Stand thereafter and they defended for their lives but something had to give and they conceded another converted try in the last play of the match (5PTS) + (2PTS) which cruelly deprived them of at least a losing bonus point.

FINAL SCORE 24PTS -33PTS
Man of the Match Dominic NEALE