Winlaton Vulcans RFC

Winlatons good recent form was continued with a win against a side that having been relegated from Division 1 last season sat second in the table and were looking for a quick return to the higher division.

As has been the case all season a much changed side took to the field from the previous week, however those new members of the team put in such a performance that the watching crowd would have been unaware that this really was a scratch side. Recent recruit Mark Bly came in for his debut at loosehead with skipper Scott Urwin moving to Hooker as Gary Allison was unavailable and remarkably Flanker Nick Stevenson had to take up a berth on the wing as no less than 5 regular backs were missing due to injury or unavailability.

The game started with Consett kicking off with a strong wind at their backs and immediately began to use the wind by pinning Winlaton in their own half, a series of strong attacks were repelled and the away side even managed to break loose and get into the opponents half. One such break presented the home side with their first score, a break by scrum half Clarkson was supported by Bowles who hit the ball at pace when he offloaded to Skipper Urwin he found himself isolated. The Consett back row were on him in a flash and he was penalised for holding on, the Consett Fly half then put over the penalty from 40 metres out to make the score 3-0.

The same pattern emerged after that score but even though the home side managed to recycle the ball well and at times find some good gaps through their backs they never threatened Winlatons line. Another such break by the back line was thwarted by a superb tackle from Tariq Albassam, Consetts young Australian centre took the ball just inside his own half and picked a superb line that looked to have set him on a course for open space. The away fans sensing a score was imminent were surprised when the Winlaton centre lined up his man so well that not only did he stop him but actually drove him back. The away pack sensing an opportunity to turn over the ball and relieve the pressure, committed the cardinal sin of going over the top and killing the ball, again the Fly half dispatched a superb kick from just inside half way to take the home side to 6-0.

After this score the game started to change, Winlaton sensing the conditions, windy and very heavy under foot resorted to their strengths and began to dominate up front and keep he ball with the forwards. Some impressive driving mauls which the home side struggled to counter helped them move into the opponents half, one such drive produced an opportunity for Kevin Allison to score from 30 metres and reduce the score to 6-3.

By now the Winlaton number 7 Barry Morns was causing the home side no end of problem with some excellent runs making some big gains. From one run the pack managed to construct another maul from slow ball and when the home side came in from the side trying to stop it Kevin Allison slotted the penalty over to level the scores.

Half Time 6-6

With the wind Winlaton proceeded to set Consett back in their own half and make them attack from deep, kicking from hand was difficult and the home side found it hard to clear their lines. After 50 minutes they were judged to have killed the ball at a ruck and Kevin Allison put Winlaton into the lead 6-9.

This score produced Consetts best period of play, sensing an embarrassing defeat they began to use their back line which was much stronger than Winlatons. However a mixture of the heavy ground and some ambitious passing moves thwarted their efforts and along with some thunderous defence most notably from Albassam they found it hard to score.

Eventually the pressure told, after a series of quick rucks and concerted attacks the ball was fed to the backs, Winlatons defence was stretched and with too many forwards in defensive positions the ball was fed to the home winger to score in the corner to put Consett in then lead. 11-9.

Winlaton would have been forgiven for buckling at this point. A change was required when Dave Hunter damaged his ribs, the blindside flanker had had a fantastic game and his replacement Steve Macleod was carrying a knee injury such were the shortages on available players.

Buckle they did not, cleverly kicking the ball from hand, Kevin Allison continued his fine form for the season by pinning the home side in their own half. Some good runs from Morns, Moore and Urwin kept the pressure on in the forwards and eventually the home pack began to infringe. This presented penalty opportunities which Allison converted after 64, 67 and 75 minutes to put the home side well on the back foot and behind 11-18.

With only a few minutes remaining the home side knowing they needed a converted try just to level the game tried a high kick off, number 7 Morns crowned a man of the match performance by taking the ball just outside his 22 and making the break of the match. Breaking several tackles and handing off some weak attempts he showed exceptional speed before being tackled 30 metres from the home line. A short drive from the ruck was used to set up Allison who received a pin point pass from Clarkson to slot over the drop goal from 35 metres and win the match for an elated Winlaton team.

Final score 11-21.