Redcar kicked off with the gale force wind behind them but it wasn’t any advantage as Ponteland took charge of the game from the start as Redcar’s poor set piece play let them down time and again. As the rain started the weather conditions worsened, Ponteland broke through in the middle of the field and some poor tackling gave them the first points of the game with a converted try, 0 – 7. On 30 mins Redcar’s Danny Addison kicked a penalty, 3 – 7. Just a few mins later he missed a penalty.
Half Time Redcar 3 Ponteland 7
Ponteland now had the wind, they pressed Redcar as they drove the scrums and took several against the head, Redcar’s forwards were in disarray and the game was very scrappy, player coach Neil Young received a yellow card on 52 mins, Neil Cook and Steve Johnson left the field injured but Redcar still battled on and were rewarded on 60 mins when prop turned hooker Chris Clitheroe, who was having his best game for Redcar, drove over the Ponte line and scored, 8 – 7.
Ponteland continued their onslaught as the game drew to a close, but were thwarted by first a great try saving tackle by centre Jake Duddles and then on the final play of the game they were held up over the Redcar line, game over.
Final Score Redcar 8 Ponteland 7
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
8. | Stockton | 25 | 51 |
9. | Novocastrians | 24 | 50 |
10. | Guisborough | 24 | 49 |
11. | Medicals | 26 | 44 |
12. | Ponteland | 26 | 43 |
13. | Gosforth | 26 | 40 |
14. | Redcar | 26 | 23 |