Bears Auger out a win at Ashington

The Bears travelled to Ashington on the back of two wins and in a rich vein of form expecting a good game and the possibility of an away win. This over confidence, coupled with only having 6 recognised forwards led to an early set back for the Bears. Ashington recognising the Berwick pack was lighter, decided to hammer away at the Berwick defence at any and every opportunity and from a quick penalty they drove over for the first score of the match, duly converted, 7-0 the score after 7 minutes.

To add to the difficulties faced, both teams were reduced to 14 men with Loveday being sent under the posts for retaliation after 12 minutesalong with the Ashington offender.

This however seamed to settle the Bears who organised in defence and tried to counter attack at every opportunity,whichwas rewarded with a penalty.The Bears were unable to convert the pressure into points and the score remained unchanged until 2 minutes from half time. When from a quick tap penalty the Ashington scrum half found their big centre in midfield with a long pass.The centre blasted his way through the Bears midfield to score under the posts. This was converted to take the half time score to 14 – 0. A slightly unfair representation of the first half but the Bears needed to be more disciplined in their approach as far too many penalties were conceded in the first half denying themselves continuity and teh ability to pressure Ashington.

At the start of the second half the Bears showed renewed appetite for the game and started to play to their potential with the forwards wining their own ball at set piece and making life difficult for the larger Ashington pack. With the front five of, Stewart, Ord, Stobbart, McAleese and Dryden working hard in the engine room, in addition to the adopted might of Alsop and Henderson backing up Loveday in the back row.

Having more ball and room to work with the Bears back line started to find space to move the heavier Ashington team around and within 3 minutes of the restart they had secured a penalty kicked cleanly by Angus Brown (14 – 3).

Immediately from the kick of the Bears forwards secured quick ball, Patterson fed Pick in space who broke up the Ashington defensive wall with some great stepping and then showed great pace to finish from his own 10 meter line. The try was converted by Brown. The score now 14 – 10 and the game was within the Bears grasp.With the sun shining, the pace of the game quickening the Ashington forwards were looking more than a little downcast, after their second sin binning of the afternoon.

The Bears should have taken full advantage of the next 10 minutes but failed to do so with the mid field taking it upon themselves to try and win the game un aided.The Bears managed to squander 4 or 5 real opportunities to score out wide and finish the game during this period.

This was especially dissapointing with the Ashington 10 and 12 rushing up to create space, often exploited by Patterson and both Ashington wings were now defended by front five players. The score remained unchanged and Ashington were back to full strength when Robert Exley intercepted a loose pass and raced for the corner only to be adjudged as held up from a distance by the official.

However justice was done during the next phases of play.With the Bears forwards and midfield desperately trying to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and Ashington putting up a great goal line defence. Up stepped Joseph Kern the Bears newly arrived French import, feeling he could wait no longer on the ball reaching him on the wing. Joseph moved in field recieved a short pass just inside the Ashington 22 meter line and danced his way through 4 tacklers to crash in under the posts, the try converted by Brown.

A game that the Bears should have had won long before the final whistle. No doubt there will be more to come from the hard work to be completed on the training pitch, but a great demonstration of the Bears team spirit and newly found Gallic flair.

The Bears next game is at home to Percy Park Pumas on Saturday the 25th of September.This should be a great day out at the club with the First team involved in a top of the league clash with Hawick YM and the Colts hosting Melrose Wasps.All kick offs planned for 3.00pm.