A Whirlwind Storm Sends The Viking Hords Home Defeated

A healthy crowd gathered at Gateshead Stadium to watch the 2013 North East Cup Final between Gateshead Storm and Jarrow Vikings.

Jarrow kicked the game off into the lazy but blazing sun. Full back Richard Squires who looked inspired by Jarrod Haynes earlier tweet of support returned the ball with a bang.
Storm were awarded their first penalty of the game giving them good field position before the referee wiped the tackle count as Storm piled on the pressure with hard, direct drives allowing Reece Young to scoot and find Scott Wood backing him up. Woods ghosted through the Jarrow defence to score. Adam Houston converted and Storm found themselves 6-0 ahead after 1 minute without Jarrow touching the ball.

Jarrow looked to hit straight back when a controversial Lupton 40/20 was awarded. From the scrum Jarrow looked to have gone over but the linesman adjudged the final pass to be forward.

Next it was Houston’s turn to try the 40/20. He didn't quite make the kick but good line speed and a massive hit by Houston dislodged the ball giving Storm the scrum. Storm tried to push the play from the scrum and winger Dan Mole found himself driven into touch.

On 15 minutes Storm forced a Jarrow error. Gateshead’s Scott Woods took the ball off the scrum and hit David Cash on the short lead for the hard running back rower to crash over. Houston un-characteristically missed the kick but Storm were 10-0 up.

Gateshead piled on more pressure when straight from the kick off a series of powers full drives from the Storm forwards gained Storm good field position. Jarrow looked for an intercept but Richie Metcalfe recovered as the tackle count was wiped. Hooker Reece Young spotted the gap and scooted over for the try. Houston again converted making the score 16-0 and the smile on North East’s Rugby leagues very own glory hunter Stu Robson disappear.

On 27 minutes and for the second time in two games against Jarrow Adam Houston intercepted a Jarrow long pass, with visions of last games 90 meter try in his head Houston raced away. The Jarrow players with the embarrassment of the last try fresh in their minds raced back and full back Crawford Matthews brought the Storm half down.

Jarrow again looked to have crossed on 33 minutes but again an earlier forward pass meant play was brought back for a Storm scrum.

The Vikings attacked again but a try saving tackle in the right hand corner by prop Chris Parker meant Storm went on at half Time 16-0 up.

Jarrow started the second half with a bang, the Vikings forward bursting through a weak Storm defensive effort, offloading the ball in the tackle to find his teammate in support to score. Lupton converted to make the score 16-6 after 41 minutes.

Gateshead extended their lead on 47 minutes, classy half back play from Scott Woods saw him take the ball to the line and throw a show and go, jinking over the try line. Houston on target again 22-6.

Jarrow continued to push Storm. A half break by the Vikings was again well supported and the offload put Jarrow over. The resulting kick was missed 22-10 after 52 minutes.

Storm pushed further ahead on 65 minutes when they were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks, Squires took the kicking duties and put Storm 24-10 to the good.

Jarrow had the final word on 77 minutes when Crawford Matthews sneaked over in the corner, The Vikings player converted making the final score 24-16.