2nd XV v Alnwick Win 22-5

Welcome back to the 2s match reports.

I couldn't bring myself to write about the West End performance, although West End deserved the 14-5 win.

I also missed the 33 -22 loss to Northern. Which apparently was enjoyable but disrupted.

So we turned up at Alnwick with a decent looking team on paper.

It was good to see the majority of our players in the early 20s bracket.

Messrs Black, Brace, and Marshall bring 140 years between them in total but as I've written before they provide the 2s with a good core of quality.

A word of note too for the Alnwick no 6. An Alnwick prop was injured after approx 15 mins. Our front row was already well on top by then.

The easy option of going uncontested was declined and the Alnwick 6 went front row and continued for a further 30 mins.

He subsequently was turned every which way possible by Deano and co before calling it a day with 20 to go. Excellent effort.

We were generally in control for 3/4s of the match and dictated set piece. The last 20 saw Alnwick attempt to run the ball on every occasion but Sunderland's defence held firm.

Highlights:

Young forwards dictating pace; Sika, Jordan, Smithy, Robin, Dan Grey, Geehan, Nathan M-H.

Heff's kicking out of hand.

Robin and Dan control at line out.

The coach's master stroke of using two experienced back row players in the front row for the last 20 and they still won ball in the scrum.

Lowlights:

Heff: "Padge get out of the no.10 channel!" to a suitably chastised coach who was unable to practice what he preached.

Scorers: Tries Black (2), Tolley, Sorry not sure of the other scorer. Conversion: Heff.

MoM: Jamie Cowans was part of the back line at West End a couple of weeks ago. Yet today carried and tackled consistently for full 80. Well done