GUISBOROUGH 1^ST 1V v TDSOB

FULL TIME: GUISBOROUGH 14 TDSOB 14

^11TH NOVEMBER 2006.

Guisborough and west Hartlepool Tech games are always eagerly awaited, and both have enjoyed a good season so far.

Tech are 3^rd in the table just one place ahead of Guisborough.

A heavy storm hit the ground an hour before the start, but miraculously cleared for the kick off.

Guisborough kicked off with a very strong wind behind them and looked alert and up for it, but No 3 Jason McCluskey was penalised and there was a bit of relief for Tech.

Their centre nick Donnelly took advantage of the situation and hounded up the right wing to give Tech a commanding position.

Then came some poor defensive work by Guisborough right in front of the posts, and centre Rick Foster was quick to pounce, crossing for a try.

Their outside half, Ian Wilson slotted over a conversion.

On the restart, Guisborough took play back up field again and immediately went offside.

Tech Centre Foster was having a good game and the next time he received the ball he sprinted some 50 metres up field, no sidestep on show, but most effective.

Then Guisborough gave something for the crowd to cheer.  The ball went out to South African born Kyle Zoryk and he flew downfield at the visiting defence, being tackled just before the line.

The ball went right to centre Karl Scott and he ran in under the posts for scrum half mark George to convert.

Scrum half Mark George was sending out some good ball to Zoryk at No 10 and the youngster was trying hard to take advantage of every ball.

The tech forwards charged a Kick from him down, although they made nothing of it and Guisborough’s Jason McCluskey took charge of the situation to clean things up.

A clever move by Zoryk near the posts was not anticipated by his support and another Guisborough attack was foiled.

Tech was doing really well to hold off Guisborough at this stage, especially with them having the advantage of the wind.

Just before half time, Guisborough lost Karl Scott with Neil Young, usually a hooker, substituting.

Unexpectedly, a right wing up field run came from Tech. 

The Guisborough defence got them about 5 metres from the line, but they won a penalty.

Full credit went to Guisborough who won the following lineout and were able to clear.

HALF TIME: GUISBOROUGH 7 TDSOB 7

As expected, the Guisborough half was dominated by the blue of Tech.

They were bombarding the home team with torpedo like kicks downfield, but not with the deft approach needed in the windy conditions.

Then came a penalty just on the half way line for techs Ian Wilson.  Like Georges attempt in the first half, it went offline in the wind.

Tech then put a clever kick into the corner and it looked good for them, but Guisborough managed to stem the attack and it was Paul Towers who kicked it clear from his number 7 position.

There followed some clever close hand running from Guisborough.

Mick Pattison at fullback looked classy as he interchanged with the centres.

Number 2 Eddie Lodge now re positioned at centre put tech under great pressure and Guisborough eventually won a penalty 25 metres out in front of the posts.

Zoryk attempted to release powers after another spirited run, but the flanker was tackled.

In the next move, the outside half linked well with Lodge and Horton and then received the ball back to score.

George got the conversion and Guisborough found themselves in the lead.

Surprisingly, Guisborough seemed to be playing far better into the winds, and Mick Pattison was continuing to impress tactically.

Towers put in a commanding run up the left wing and set up a magnificent platform for Guisborough.

The blacks and Ambers remained in charge and worried the life out of Tech.

The referee did not like some Guisborough defence as the final whistle beckoned.  It gave tech the platform they needed and they took every advantage.

A Mark George’s clearance kick went all wrong for him and the visitors were able to monopolise spinning the ball across field for Rick Foster to score.

Outside half Wilson got the conversion levelling it for tech.

Guisborough were unhappy as they played their hearts out, and it all went wrong at the final curtain.