Winlaton Vulcans RFC

Sat 6th Oct Winlaton 1st XV 18pts Novos 1st XV 15pts

Novos had already won the first meeting between these teams on the opening day, in the EDF Cup, against a weakened home team and after only 14mins and two tries for Novos a similar result looked on the cards. The two tries were well taken but aided by some poor home defending. Fortunately that triggered a steady fight back by Winlaton. Firstly the forwards dominated their opposition and secondly the backs tackled anything that moved. Winlaton got on the scoreboard on the stroke of half time when birthday boy David Hunter scored. Unfortunately Kevin Allison narrowly missed the conversion. Only minutes earlier Andy Robinson had fumbled the ball as the pack went for a push over try.
HT 5 – 12

Almost immediately from the restart Winlaton leveled the scores when following some excellent play by the forwards the ball was spun wide for Jamie Reddihough to score in the corner. This time Kevin Allison converted a difficult attempt. For the rest of the game it was nearly all Winlaton although the lively Novos backs always looked capable of breaking out. Two successful penalty kicks by Kevin Allison won the day. Novos converted one of their own with a rare incursion into the Winlaton 22. After the shaky first 14 minutes it was a great all round team performance. For once the line out was very productive with Andy Robinson catching everything. When ever the Novos backs got the ball Luke Mitchell led the way in stopping them.
Ft 18 – 15 MoM Michael Bowles

Sat 13th Oct Gateshead 2nd XV 13pts Winlaton ‘A’ XV 13pts

Winlaton playing their usual forward orientated game took the lead on 15 mins with a well taken try by Dave Curry, following good work from the forwards. Kevin Allison duly converted. Winlaton continued to press Gateshead only to be booted back deep into their own half when ever they lost the ball. On 35 mins Gateshead broke blind and scored an unconverted try. On the stoke of half time Gateshead scored with a penalty when Winlaton were penalized for barging in the line.
HT 8 – 7
The second half was much more even with Winlaton retaking the lead with an Allison penalty. Gateshead looked to have won the game with another unconverted try until another Allison penalty near the end of the game drew the points.
FT 13 – 13 MoM Andy Moore

Sat 20th Oct North Shields 1st XV 3pts Winlaton 1st XV 43pts

In perfect warm rugby weather Shields kicked-off with the slope in their favour. In the first 10 mins it was nip and tuck until a break by Andy Robinson and Dave Hunter had the visitors threatening the Shields line. Some good defensive work saw Shields awarded a penalty on the half-way line which they converted for a 3pt lead. Given this incentive the home side began to dominate, Winlaton countering with solid tackling, Robinson and Scott Scullion prominent. On 24 mins Winlaton levelled the score with a Kevin Allison penalty. This seem to inspire the Vulcans and from a ruck on the half-way line Andy Moore and Steve McLeod fed Kevin Allison whose cross field kick was followed up by Luke Mitchell, who touched down in the corner, Allison converting. It was Luke Mitchell again when breaking up a home attack with an interception and running the length of the field to score under the posts, Allison again converting.
HT 3– 17

With the pitch now in their favour Winlaton put Shields under pressure. A solid forward drive found the home side giving away a penalty, from which Allison found touch 10mtrs out. From the line-out Andy Robinson drove forward with his packs’ support and went over the line, Michael Bowles eventually touching down, Allison converting for 3-24. Winlaton were now totally dominant, with Robinson driving on the forwards and Mitchell dominant in defence. On 52mins Winlaton were awarded a scrum in the home 22 from which Robinson picked up and drove, the ball was spun out and Allison ,joining the line went over also converting (3-31).With Robinson adding another try , Allison missing this time,
With full-time looming Allison made amends by taking the ball on the half-way line running on to score under the posts and converting for a 3-43 win.
Although the team played well three players stood out Robinson, Mitchell and Allison.
FT 3 – 43 MoM Luke Mitchell