Northern FC

Northern won their last pre-season warm up game 45-19 at home to Tynedale Raiders. Match summary thanks to Alan Belford.

 Northern started this game on sunny but blustery day at McCracken Park with their strongest 15 after a minute's applause in memory of former 1st team player Steve Walters who sadly passed away the previous Saturday.

Northern were well on top in this half outscoring the visitors by four tries to nil. A solid scrum and good handling by the backs saw Thomas Chandler race in at the corner for the first. A splendid 50/22 by Will Jobling gave Northern the throw and after good recycling the ball reached Jonney Dowell who swerved and stepped his man to go over for the home second try.

Alex surrey was replaced by Rob Lenderyou after sustaining a cut on his chin, thanks to the boot of skipper Tom McCullough as Tynedale received a yellow card for knocking down a pass which looked like it was destined for a Northern try. No matter, Northern elected for a penalty scrum and shipped the ball wide for Ben Riley to show his pace and go over for the third try.

The final try of the half was started by a super kick return from Jonny Dowell who danced his way to the half way line. Quick ball saw Rob Lenderyou break down the right and throw an exocet missile of an inside pass which cannoned off the head of supporting Ewan Jobling. Reacting first, Ewan chased the rebound and won the race for the grounding.

Will Jobling was successful with the last three conversions, striking the ball well from difficult angles to leave the half time score at 26-0 to Northern.

 Northern used the second half to empty their bench and try different combinations which saw a much more even game as Tynedale made fewer changes. This half ended at three tries all which did perhaps flatter the visitors.

Northern scored first from a five metre lineout catch & drive, Kyle Blackmore peeling around and barging over.

Tynedale responded with two tries of their own, the first after theTynedale scrum half spotted Northern's midfield dozing and scampered through to run in under the posts and the second when Northern failed to protect the ball from an attacking ruck in the Tyne half and the visitors simply picked up the ball and gave it to their wing who raced in unopposed.

Northern restored parity with a battering run by Kyle Blackmore going in at the posts. They then took the lead with the try of the game. A scrum in the home 22 was won and fast hands by Tom McCullough and Harvey Guthrie breaking blind set Jimmy Howarth away. The wing raced away and swerved, stepped and bamboozled the covering defenders to run in for a fine score. 

There were three minutes left on the clock when Northern succeded in losing a ruck in our 22 then gave away a penalty which Tynedale tapped and scored from to level the half. With two conversions each the half ended 19-19.

 A final score of 45-19 was a good result for Northern and a good workout for both teams as we await the start if the league season proper in two weeks time. Next Saturday the Wanderers play Gateshead at home in their pre-season warm up game.