Match report GRUFC 1^st Team 11th February 2006.

Guisborough  25   V Wallsend  21.

Third in the league, wallsend played 7^th in the league Guisborough at Belmangate today.

Guisborough had to live up to last week’s good performance against high fliers Sunderland and Wallsend had to pick up their spirits after losing their coach to rivals Gosforth.

Play was pretty much midfield with an occasional spurt into the guisborough 22, but Guisborough gained possession from a line out, and rucked their way up the park where Chris rye darted through the Wallsend defence to touch down, and Mcluskey converting.
Despite a good battle, Wallsend worked their way back, and were awarded a penalty at 5 metres.  They worked the ball to the line, where the pack shoved it over and Wallsend scored.  The conversion was successful.
Some good interlinking from the backs took Guisborough to the line on more than one occasion.  A drive from the forwards gathered some momentum, and the ball went to ground at 5 metres where the ref blew for what he thought was a try.  The game restarted, and Guisborough maintained pressure, but the Wallsend fullback cleared the line.

Half time score Guisborough 7 Wallsend 7.

After the half time pep talk, Guisborough returned to the field in fighting spirits.
A jinking run from kev Hamlyn was stopped 5 metres from the try line, but a sweet off load and a good string of passes along the backs to Chris Rye, meant a successful pop to Eddie lodge, gave Guisborough their 2^nd try of the game, and Eddies first ever try for the club.  Again Mcluskey converted.
A penalty was given for an offside offence, and again Mcluskeys boot hit the sweet spot despite a bracing crosswind.
It was Wallsends turn to pressure the Guisborough line and that constant pressure led to number 7 punching through the defence with a successful conversion.
Guisborough worked the ball back to the line, but an interception from the Wallsend winger took him on a 20-metre run, only to be stopped and taken into touch.
It was Guisborough who regained possession and worked their way to the 5-metre line. Scrum half Tom Rose picked up from the back of the ruck, and it was Jamie Mulholland who received the pass to touch down.
It looked as if Guisborough were in for another, but the Wallsend number 14 intercepted at the 22 and went on a darting run to touch down, and again the conversion was successful.
Pressure continued from Guisborough, and the final score came from the Guisborough stand off who took the opportunity of a drop kick at the 22, which was successful.