In Durham Northumberland Division Two, SEATON CAREW managed to arrest their slide down the table with their first victory in six games. Selection has been a problem for several weeks now and on Saturday there were no less than sixteen unavailable players, all of whom are capable of holding down a first team place. Nevertheless the eighteen selected on the day showed a level of commitment that has perhaps been lacking in previous weeks and, faced by an equally determined Wallsend side, some excellent rugby was produced. Seaton struck within the first few minutes. Taking the first line-out against the throw, the ball was moved out wide and full-back Tom Addison broke through at a well judged angle and winger David Storey touched down. Fly-half Lewis Humble added the conversion. They didn't hold the lead for long, however, for within fifteen minutes Wallsend had accrued two very similar converted tries. The first was the result of a loose ball being hacked on and the second came from an overhead kick. In both cases the home defence was caught flat footed. Humble reduced the deficit with a midfield penalty and, on the twenty-fifth minute, number 8 Murry Stockdale was the recipient of a clever throw to the front of a line-out inside the visitor's twenty-two. Hooker Ben Glaister-Smith was in close support and the ball went through several hands before being returned to Stockdale who crashed over the line for an unconverted try. Five minutes later, after several excellent phases, Humble broke through with centre Jeff Storey in support and lock Steve Wilson crossed the whitewash. A couple of adverse penalty decisions drove the seasiders onto the back foot and, after a text book catch and drive, Wallsend created an overlap out wide to touch down in the final minute of the half. They were unable to make the difficult conversion but they had done enough to restrict Seaton's lead to 20-19 at the interval. Within two minutes of the re-start, Addison broke out to score a long distance individual try and five minutes later, once again as a result of some impressive phases, the home forwards worked their way into open play and Stockdale nabbed his second of the day. Humble was unable to convert either of the tries but he added a couple of penalties to take what seemed to be an unbeatable 36-19 lead. Wallsend had other ideas, however, and in the last ten minutes their ceaseless work rate produced two unconverted tries, which not only tested Seaton's nerves but in the end gave them two well deserved bonus points.

TEAM FOR STC

1.Simon Ashton
2.Benji Glastair Smith
3.Kev Brallisford
4.Steven Wilson
5.Liam Savage
6.Kev Tumilty (c)
7.Scott Burminson
8.Murry Stockdale

9.Dave Keightly
10.Dave Storey
11.Stuart Mclennan
12.James Lindsey
13.Marty Lithgo
14.Phil Purdy
15.Thomas Addison

Alan Ainsley , Peter Storey and Dan Charlton