Storm Progress To Finals

By chris parker

Gateshead Storm progress to the final of the Selby Cup after a 30-40 win against Brotherton Bulldogs

Gateshead Storm progress to the final of the Selby Cup after a 30-40 win against Brotherton Bulldogs.

Storm will take to the Feathestone Rovers Big Fellas Stadium on the 26th April after a tough semi final win against Brotherton Bulldogs.

The sun may have been shining down in Brotherton but the game was hit by a storm in the opening minutes. After solid work by the Gateshead forwards, a neat spread play through the backs found Luke Banham I'm the corner. Houston added the tough kick to give Storm a early 0-6 lead.

Brotherton hit back with two try's to settle the home sides nerves adding the extras to one of the try's. 10-6.

Substitute Chris Parker made a immediate impact crashing over from a short distance.
Parker made the initial break getting over his opposite number before offloading to Stephen Welton who was held up short of the line. Dummy Half Scott Woods then hot Parker on a short lead for him to get over the top of the Brotherton defender to ground the ball.
Adam Houston converted to put Storm ahead 10-12.

Banham grabbed his second try of the game when squires hit Louie Moore out the back of a crack, Moore then drew the defender before off loading it to Banham to score. 10-16.

Parker grabbed his second of the day when the loose forward jumped in at dummy half after Scott Woods open up the Bulldogs defence. Parkers show and go saw him sneak over the line.10-22

Brotherton brought the scores closer before Scott Woods threw a good dummy from dummy half to the crash over to extend Gateshead's lead to 16-28 as Houston converted. 10-28

Half time

Storm were in again when an over ride call from Richard Squires was called.The hooker found Squires on the blind side of the ruck. Squires threw a dummy hop on the Brotherton second row before dummying to his winger and going over himself. Houston added the extras.16-34.

Brotherton again replied to the visitors score. The converted try made it 22-34.

The Bulldogs added another unconverted try to push the score to 26-34.

Storm again extended their lead. Another short lead run from Chris Parker was found by the tireless Scott Woods. The Bulldogs defence again struggled to contain Parker who crashed over for his third try of the game. Houston converted 26-40.

Brotherton brought the score even closer with a well worked try making the final few minutes uncomfortable for Gateshead but the Storm showed some determined defence to hold out for the win the game 30-40.

Storm head coach Chris Parker commented " we've put out a decent show there today . There was a good crowd down to watch the game and I think we did the North East some justice today. Of course were disappointed to have conceded 30 points as we have done a lot of work on defence but to be fair to Brotherton they played some nice stuff. You could tell there well into their season and on a bit of a winning run were as we were a bit off the pace with not playing for a few weeks. We're looking forward to the finals day and will be going all out to get our first bit of silver wear for 2014."