MORE INJURY WOE FOR GUTSY ALNWICK

A TEAM puts 60 points past you and it still seems like a good result?

Unlikely though it sounds, that was the bizarre conclusion of just about everyone who played in or watched this whole-hearted encounter in the Autumn sunshine.

While the score makes grim reading, there were positives all over the pitch once the boys woke up - which was about half way into the match.

There were some negatives once again though, with an Alnwick player needing hospital treatment for the third weekend in a row.

This time it was Reece Gaines in the ambulance with a knee injury. James Stanley also limping off with a very painful ankle.

The loss of those two meant the Alnwick lads played much of this match against Ponteland with one or two fewer players than their opponents.

But they deserved great credit for fighting right to the end - with James “Mr Comedy” Keane’s “We can still win this” rallying cry worthy of special mention - for the laughs it raised on the touchline as we were already 31 points behind by then.

A tidy debut from Alnwick debutant Kieran Tinlin also helped to raise the mood.

The referee did his best, but caused some frustration among the visiting ranks with several curious decisions. If only Keith Broughton could be persuaded to dust down his whistle and make a comeback to officiate in the odd game.

In the early exchanges the home side were harder in the rucks, quicker in the breakdown and made better decisions.

They were three tries up before the first signs of Alnwick waking from their Sunday morning slumber.

Harry Paul tackled a Ponteland back, ripped the ball from his grasp and passed it out into space allowing Reece Gaines to score in the corner.

In a game that seemed to go on forever the ref then blew for the first of several breaks. From the re-start he spotted an infringement that nobody else had with Alnwick looking likely to score.

Josh Lowes was making some fearsome breaks into opposition territory and big Drew Thompson was throwing himself into the fray with trademark gusto.

Ben Leadbitter caught the eye with a clever tactical kick for touch that took Alnwick within 10 metres of the home try line.

Then Gaines had to be helped from the field of play, the ambulance taking more than an hour to collect him. But undaunted Lowes was soon powering over for Alnwick’s second touch down.

Within minutes James Stanley was limping off the pitch too and soon Ponteland were 34-10 up.

The spirit of the boys remained undimmed though and there was some heroic tackling from Blackburn, Broughton, Paul and many others. The latter’s tap tackle on the Ponteland winger a try-saving moment.

Lowes showed he has spent the past week watching the World Cup, attempting an audacious cross-field kick to the wing, sadly it didn’t quite have the accuracy of a Johnny Sexton effort, but was great to see despite that.

George Blackburn and mighty Drew Thompson then combined well to lay the ball out to the right for Harry Paul to force his way over for Alnwick’s third try. Harry’s conversion attempt hitting the post from some distance.

By now it was 46-15 but Alnwick heads still didn’t droop.

Ben Sutherland and all the forwards really began to believe in themselves from that point on and from a scrum Lowes and Thompson worked well together again for try number four, with Paul converting for the extra two points.

Sloppy defence then allowed the home side to run straight up the pitch from the re-start and restore their winning margin. Ponteland scored yet again in the last minute, with a conversion to pile on the points before the referee finally realised what time it was and blew his whistle.

Despite the defeat Coach Leadbitter, an old school chum of beleaguered England boss Stuart Lancaster, was pleased with the performance.

“The boys were making good decisions and took control of the game,” he said.

“Every one of the lads raised their game and played their hearts out. The score wasn’t that important, we had bodies lying about all over the place.

“Something seemed to click near the end and we showed what we can do. I take no responsibility for that, it was the boys who shone.”

The Man of The Match award was given to Josh Lowes.

“He took over the captaincy in Gaines’ absence and got everyone going,” said Leadbitter.