Impressive win for Sunderland 2/3s

Hello from the 2s report .

This weekend we saw very limited availability due to injuries (as always), odd reasons for being unavailable (as always) and the colts having a cup match on Sunday.

As a result we could not field x3 senior teams only a combined 2/3s.

From a 2s perspective we saw most disruption in the back line with only Dale Thompson playing from the starting back line from the win at Westoe.

However there were a number of familiar faces in the pack . Returns from Hanlon, Elstob and Hanson to the 2s meant we continued for another week to have a very competitive pack.

My thanks to back rows Adam Reay, Liam Evans and Scully all playing out of position at Scrum Half, Winger and Centre respectively, all of them did very well.

Novos to their credit worked hard to the end and only really succumbed to our pressure midway through the 2nd half. If this was their 4th team as was suggested then we will have a hard game v Novos 3s next week.

Anyway after dismantling Novos up front in the 1st Half we played a much more expansive game to score 54-0 with 10 tries.

Highlights:

Forwards: very impressed all around at level of performances particularly kick offs which we've been practising.

All round contributions: everyone in the 17 man squad did something positive.

Scully: he can play inside centre very well, he might have almost been as good as last weeks inside centre for the 2s,

Ki: asked him to prove he should be playing 1sts, looked too good for 2/3s to me.

Finchy: another one who looked very good to me and won about 90 percent of ALL the lineouts . Kicked two conversions but not really a plus point.

Shaun Marshall: the tip tackle was dreadfull, so his reaction was understandable. His apology was genuine and gained a round of applause.

Lowlights:

Dean Marshall: the tip tackle was dreadful, the paternal instinct laudable and understandable but thankfully fresh air cannot fight back and a yellow card was a good result

Andy Black: your 42 years old man be captain without twisting!

MoM: Shaun Marshall not for the above stuff but because he carried lots all game, tackled, won line outs and stood out in a very strong back 5 and he's trained past x2 Thursday nights and I can tell the difference because of it!