GUISBOROUGH 1^ST 1V  V  ASHINGTON 

28^th October 2006.

Final Score: Ashington 20 Guisborough 22

Guisborough made the long trip to Ashington today with key positions missing.

Captain Paul Devonport stepped into the breech as hooker, and that old stalwart Thane Gough stepped in as prop after an 11^th hour call.

The weather was breezy but warm, and the rain held off.

It was Ashington who made the first attack, and play continued to be hard fought around the 22.

Guisborough defended well, and retaliated, but a knock on at the halfway gave a scrum to Ashington who retained the ball and worked it back up the field.

From a lineout at 15m, the ball went to the Ashington no 10 who chip kicked the ball through the Guisborough defence.  Guisboroughs Des Horton was first to the ball, and touched it down giving them some breathing space.

A handling error by Guisborough at the half way line gave Ashington possession, and danger loomed from an Ashington 5m scrum.

Ashington drove over at 12 minutes and grounded the ball, but the conversion went wide.

14 minutes into the game, Guisborough were awarded a penalty in front of the posts for a rucking offence, and mark George made the mark.

A second followed moments later but the kick went wide.

At 31 minutes, Guisborough found their feet, and some good backs and forwards interlinking allowed Kyle Zoryk to dart to the line and offload to Des Horton who touched down followed by a Mark George conversion.

Half Time: Ashington 12 Guisborough 10

Moments into the second half, an offload to winger Kev Hamlyn, took him on a 30m run to the line and touch down.  The conversion hit the posts.

A penalty to Ashington followed, given for an offside offence at the scrum.  A penalty kick from 30m bounced over the bar.

The Ashington forwards drove on and put the ball out to the wing.  The winger touched down but no conversion.

Guisborough fought back, and after some tremendous forwards work, the ball was popped to Kyle Zoryk who charged through the Ashington defence for a distance of 30m before touching down, and Mark George converting.

With 10 minutes to go, Ashington was awarded a penalty at 20m, which fell short.

In the closing minutes of the game (extra time), Ashington twice took the ball over the line, but the Guisborough defence held up the ball.