U12s Mixed Bag v Gateshead and West

First up the lads played Gateshead and the game was very physical from the off. Sunderland made 2 good breaks (Ben Hutchinson and Fletcher Jackson but were halted just short.

Some great rugby and both teams had chances but half time came with no score.

Sunderland put Gatesheads line under intense pressure at the start of the second half and looked to have scored a try through Fletcher but the ref was unsighted and didn't award it. Battling on,they were not to be outdone and went on to score a brilliant try - Farai Chickumbrike - who took off from halfway and could not be caught. Try converted by Michael holder for 7-0 lead.

As the last minute approached great persistence from Reece Thompson saw him add a great try when it looked impossible to get through. Again converted by Michael Holder to make the final score 14-0 - an excellent win for sunderland.

Second game saw the lads against hosts West Hartlepool who started very fast and went into a early lead 0-7. West had a massive pack, and we looked to be taken by surprise by the sheer strength of them, however, Sunderland gave their heads a shake and began to fight back in the scrum.Matthew Sanderson saw a gap at scrum half and went over to equalise -again reliably converted by Michael Holder 7-7.

The game went from end to end with both sides playing great rugby. A smart move saw Kye Horn make good ground but he was tackled, half time score 7-7.

Second half saw some brilliant defending to keep Hartlepool out after they looked certain to score. The lads could not get out of their half and it was real backs to the wall stuff. Great tackling by Sunderland on their own try line was a joy to watch if not a little nailbiting at times and credit to them for fighting to the end. Eventually West managed a late score in the dying seconds to go 12-7 up. Sunderland managed to charge down the conversion and from the kickoff the lads mounted a charge to try and win the match but after a nod from the referee indicating last play West managed to touch the ball down over their line to end the game,final score 12-7.

As summarised by coach Stu a very good game and big mention must go to all the forwards, Cameron Miller, Bradley Wall, Denton Robinson, Reece Thompson, Aidan Wayman, Farai chickumbrike and Adam Armstrong who, despite being a lot smaller contested every scrum brilliantly.

Report by Gary Jackson.