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Gateshead Storm 26- Jarrow Vikings 16

Gateshead Storm kept their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought victory over Jarrow Vikings. Storm got the better of the early exchanges, dominant in both attack and defence. The pressure told on the Vikings defence when a neatly placed Adam Houston grubber kick was collected by debutant Jonathon Ward to make the scores 4-0 in favour of Storm. Houston was unable to make the conversion. The try seemed to settle Storm, enabling them to play the more composed rugby which was capped off with a 5th tackle backline play which resulted in another Jonathon Ward try right in the corner. Adam Houston converted to make the score 10-0. After a period of play in which neither team seemed to gain the upper hand, a scrum on half way was formed with a storm put in. From the scrum Adam Houston put in a kick for rangy wingman Jonathon Ward to chase. The bounce of the ball beat the Jarrow Vikings full back, with the Storm winger plucking the ball from the air to run in unopposed making the score 14-0 to Storm. A period of pressure from Storm towards the back end of the half resulted in Joe Jackson slicing through the defence on the 5th tackle.

Half Time Score Gateshead Storm 20-0 Jarrow Vikings.

Jarrow Vikings started the 2nd half the better team, not allowing Gateshead Storm to build momentum or field position. A number of Storm mistakes allowed Jarrow to have the lions share of possession. This finally told when John Coutts cleverly chipped over the line and collected to score Jarrow’s 1st try. He also added the conversion making the score 20-6. The upper hand then changed midway through this half with a telling break from Gary Sargent. With the line in sight he was ankle tapped, but managed to find the supporting Steven Thompson who went in for Storm’s 5th try with Adam Houston adding the extras. Storm 26- Jarrow 6. Not a team to roll over lightly, Jarrow found themselves with good field position, continually forcing mistakes from Storm. Camped in the Storm half, Ben Wilcock managed to squeeze himself over for a try from dummy half with Coutts adding the conversion. Gateshead Storm 26- Jarrow Vikings 12.
Again Jarrow managed to pile on the pressure with repeated sets in the Storm half. A backline play orchestrated by Coutts resulted in Jarrow Wing Martin Bengston to score in the corner, with Coutts missing the conversion.

Full time Gateshead Storm 26- Jarrow Vikings 16.