Houghton upset the odds

With last weeks huge snow blizzard, halting all fixtures and the thaw causing mass flooding to the home pitch. Houghton moved the game to the reserve pitches based over Durham road. The mood of the squad was upbeat with many players arriving earlier than meet time to prepare for the fixture. The warm up went well and the positive briefing from the Yorkshire referee seemed to lift the squad. Houghton kicked the game off and Shields went on the attack. The first five minutes were all Shields as they used forward drives to progress, however they were met by sturdy Houghton defence from Matt Marchant, Chris Watson, Craig Hicks and Newton Turton. Houghton got their first attack under way when pressure from Adam Reay on the Shields flyhalf, seen Turton turnover the ball. Darren Witte moved the ball to James Ross who made yards. The next phase seen Turton and Witte combine before the flyhalf kicked deep into Shields territory. Unfortunately prop forward Eddie Gurksis took a knock on he's shoulder in the breakdown and had to leave the field of play. A Shields over throw seen Reay come up with the ball and start a new attack. Shields were adjudged to be holding on to the tackler and a penalty was awarded, David Bains converting. The game was evenly contested for the next ten minutes with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity. Solid defence from both teams halted any real chances though. The best chance did fall to Shields when a chip chase was collected by their fullback but an excellent tackle from colt player, Ryan Graham helped by the supporting Ryan Main pushed the player into touch. A yellow card was shown to a Shields player around the twenty fifth minute mark. After several warnings from the referee, a player was adjudged to be slowing Houghton ball after a massive Craig Hicks tackle turned over ball. Houghton applied pressure through their new lineouts which seemed to be functionally well, Graham and Aidan Towers made good yards from back moves after quick work from Dan Jones. After thirty five minutes Houghton lost flyhalf Witte after a hefty tackle, he was replaced by Danny Wolfe seeing Tom Birtley move to scrumhalf and Bains to number ten. It was Shields who scored the first try of the game against the run of play. Then moved further ahead after Bains was adjudged to not release the player and Shields slotted over to take a half time lead of 3-8.
The second half got underway and straight from the kick off Rob Hebron showed he ball carrying skills to move Houghton forward. Birtley showed could communication skills getting he's forwards to work together, using short drives through Marchant, Reay and Glen Crowther to make ground. The ball was released to Bains who cleverly chipped to the corner, Shields won there own lineout and cleared the danger. Again the game became an arm wrestle with both sides sturdy defences cancelling out each others attacks. Houghton's defensive line was lead exceptionally from the guards through Turton, Hicks and Reay, with James Ross and Dan Jones covering anything that came to the wider channels. The game slowed slighty around the sixty to seventy minute mark as players were going down rapidly through injuries. Hebron received treatment to what appeared to be a elbow to the throat. Then captain Matt Marchant had to leave the field for a head injury assessment for possible concussion after coming out of a ruck dazed. Houghton picked the pace up for the last ten minutes and looked sharp. Birtley using the forward momentum to drive the side deep into Shield territory with Watson,Allan Scott and Ryan Main at the forefront. Houghton eventually got the try they deserved when Shields cleared a spilled Houghton pass. Wolfe broke from he's own twenty two metre line and linked with Graeme Bennet. The next phase seen Hebron bulldoze through three would be tacklers before offloading to Turton. Jones continued the move before passing to Ross, who hit a straight line attracting the fullback then popped a perfectly timed pass to the supporting Birtley to score, Bains converting. Shields tried their best to get the result they wanted and pressed for the last few minutes. However the defence and work rate from the forwards and backs alike was enough to secure the victory.