Tynedale 41 Sedgley Tigers 0, National Division One (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Tynedale 41 Sedgley Tigers 0, National Division One

3:02pm Wednesday 20th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

IT has been five long weeks since Sedgley last tasted action and the resulting rustiness was there for all to see.

Peter Coles scored the first of Tynedale’s seven tries after just two minutes.

The Tigers battled their way back into the game and enjoyed substantial possession in the middle third of the field, they just could nott take it into the final third.

Dale kicked downfield into Steve Nutt’s hands, but the Tigers’ fullback failed to chase his return punt and once in possession the hosts’ backs ran the ball out to left wing Charlie Ingau, who found Gavin Beasley in space for another unconverted try.

Touchdown number three arrived on the half-hour with another Dale turnover. They then kicked a penalty to the corner and with lineout ball won sent Coles over for his second, converted by Phil Belgian.

However, the real disaster for the Tigers came on 34 minutes when playmaker Phil Jones was stretchered off and taken to Hexham infirmary where he was diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon.

This forced Sedgley into a reshuffle for the second half, with Chris Wilkinson moving to fly-half and Will Runciman slotting in at scrum-half.

Despite this change the Dale pack quickly regained the initiative and scrum-half Dominic Shaw exploited a five-on-two advantage down the right, finished off by fullback Hamish Smales, who touched down between the posts with Belgian adding the extras.

This resulted in a discernable drop in confidence in the Sedgley ranks which ‘Dale exploited fully, running in two further tries from Number 8 Alistair Murray and outside centre Jack Harrison, with Belgian kicking the second.

Despite the scoreline there were some good individual Sedgley performances, none more so than that of recent England Counties selection, inside centre Matt Riley, who battled bravely in defence and attack.

Unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent Dominic Shaw crossing for Dale’s final try of the game two minutes from time.

• Print
• Email
• Share