Man of the Match Sponsor Ian STAVERLY

Coach Tony Horsfall had to improvise and play players out of position with Kevin ALLISON reverting back to standoff and Adam ROBERTS on the wing. Also included were players Sean PYLE and Gregg NEWLANDS who were making there first team debuts. He was also able to welcome back Joe JENKINS and Steven KANE after long term injuries.

The Vulcans kicked off facing a strong wind and from the first minute showed their intent by running the ball out of their own 22. On 3MINS Seghill infringed and ALLISON took a quick tap penalty and fed Lee HARVEY who burst through several tackles and when stopped offloaded to Kris LAUDER who crashed over to score(5PTS) + (2PTS) ALLISON kicking the conversion.

The first quarter saw Winlaton dominant in the set piece and combative at the breakdown and Seghill at this stage could not cope with their physicality and organisation in those departments. As a result the Vulcans were able to take their try scoring opportunities with both hands.

ON 11MINS after a forceful run up the middle by Darren CORNWALL supported by KANE was halted Sam McARDLE continued the move and fed winger ROBERTS who broke through two tackles to score in the corner. (5PTS) the difficult conversion being missed.

The flowing rugby continued and on 15MINS after the ball had passed through several hands JENKINS on the halfway line took the ball at pace and made a searing break leaving several defenders in his wake to score a spectacular try under the posts(5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by ALLISON.

From the restart the ball was kicked deep into the Winlaton 22 and was collected by Jason COWLEY who elected to run the ball out and after his 40metre run was halted the ball was moved along the three quarters to JENKINS who again cut through and side stepped the Seghill defence to score another great team try for the additional bonus point (5PTS) + (2PTS) ALLISON converting the try. Unfortunately after this effort JENKINS had to retire with a calf strain.

The Vulcans were totally in control at this stage and on 22MINS after approach work by CORNWALL, KANE and LAUNDER took them to the Seghill 10 metre area the move was halted but the ball was quickly recycled for 17 year old scrum half PYLE who picked up at the base and nipped in to score his first try in senior rugby (5PTS) the touchline kicked being missed.

The next quarter at last saw Seghill get into the game by using the elements they kicked long and forced Winlaton to defend their line and concede a series of penalties. But excellent tackling led by KANE prevented the hosts from registering a score.

Seghill's only answer to the Winalton pressure was to continuously transgress and they quickly incurred the wrath of the referee who ‘yellow carded’ two of their players in quick succession.

On 35MINS the Vulcans at last broke the stranglehold with a good run out of defence by new signing NEWLAND who made a 40metre run but the move was halted and petered out due to lack of support.

HALF TIME 0PTS-31PTS

With the advantage of the wind in the second half Winlaton looked to continue the way they had finished the first half and on 45MINS a scrum on the Seghill 22 saw number 8 CORWALL pick up and run blind to score under the posts (5PTS) +(2PTS) ALLISON converting the try.

ON 50MINS it was more of the same with HARVEY rampaging through the Seghill defence supported by ROBERTS and after a series of rucks in involving the forwards was stopped the ball was fed to prop Jack DORAN standing out who took the ball at pace 10metres out and crashed over under the post(5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by ALLISON.

After this coach HORSFALL with one eye on the table toppers clash with South Tyneside College next week decided to do a ‘Stuart Lancaster’ and make wholesale substitutions. Following this partly due to Seghill’s spirit and determination to keep playing and although Winlaton had played some superb rugby for much of the afternoon they were bedevilled by the occasional lapse and perhaps infected by their own ambition and skill they lost momentum in the last quarter of the game and failed to add to the score.
FULL TIME 0 PTS-45 PTS

Man(s) of the Match Kris GOWLAND and Steven KANE

Scorers Joe JENKINS 2xTRIES 10PTS, Darren CORNWALL 1xTRY 5PTS, Jack DORAN1xTRY 5PTS, Adam ROBERTS 1xTRY 5PTS,Kris LAUDER 1xTRY 5PTS,Sean PYLE 1xTRY 5PTS,Kevin ALLISON 5X COVERSIONS 10PTS.