Bears winning run ended by the Vikings

The Bears travelled to Jarrow buoyed by a solid win against Blyth last week, but expecting a tough encounter against Jarrovians 1st team, who had out muscled the Berwick side during their last encounter at Scremerston. The Bears task was made all the more difficult by a number of no shows and late call offs. On arrival at Jarrow the Bears only had 14 players, so the Bears coach Andy Martin had to step up to the mark and play his first full game in three years,to make up the numbers and credit to Robert Exley who volunteered to play prop to save the points before kick off.

Despite the long bus journey the Bears started the game the brighter with the Jarrovians kick off being returned by Andy Martin with interest setting the tone for his players. For the next few plays the Bears had the home team under pressure resulting in a penalty converted by Angus Brown on 4 minutes (0-3). The bright start however was not to continue with the heavier home pack starting to dominate the loose, with a tight off loading and driving game well supported by their big hard running centres. This was down to in part by the Bears sloppy defence and poor tackling. This led to the home sides first score on 12 minutes which was converted (7-3).

Berwick returned the kick off to win good field position just outside of Jarrovians 22 meter line where the promising attack fizzled out, resulting in a way ward drop goal attempt by James Warcup.

The resulting restart went straight out and the Bears had a line out on the 22 meter line that was unfortunately over thrown and led to the home side breaking out and after 3 phases of play score their 2nd try out wide on 17 minutes, which was not converted.(12-3).

The next 20 minutes were fairly even with some hard fought battles between both sides with Mark Straughan, David Alsop, Cameron Martin and Captain Mark Loveday showing up well in the loose, between both 22 meter lines. A penalty conceded on 27 minutes by the Bears,that was converted (15-3) and a penalty conceded by Jarrovians on 33 minutes that was missed by Angus Brown were the last events of this half.

The first half ending 15-3 in the home sides favour.

This had been an up hill struggle in the first half for the Bears but credit has to go to the whole team but in particular, centre Russell Henderson and the back three of James Mechan, Jack Aitchison and Jamie Pick,along with the Bears back row for their hard work and tackling which ensured the score line was minimised at half time. plaudits are also due to the Bears scrum half Declan Blackburn who had a difficult job behind a retreating scrum for most of the day but fought on and tackled well at the base of the scrum.

The second half started with the Bears attacking into a stiffening breeze and it was the Berwick sides eagerness to run the ball that put themselves under pressure.Simple mistakes led to loss of field position and pressure from the bigger Jarrovian scrum. However the Bears were defending better and held out untill on 43 minutes the home side looked to have breached the Bears defences. When their centre dived in for what looked like a certain try, until Cameron Martin swooped from no where it seemed to tackle the player in the air, turning him on his back and holding up the ball to deny the score. This was however only a temporary success, from the resulting scrum the Jarrovian pack drove over for the score despite the Bears best efforts.The resulting kick was converted in front of the posts (22-3).

The restart led to a period where lapses in concentration and some poor tackling brought about a soft try for the home side on 53 minutes the score now (29-3) after the successful conversion.

From the resulting kick off a solid team effort,good work from McAleese and Loveday saw the Bears secure a strong platform to attack from .The next phase saw a gilmse of magic from James Warcup, as he ghosted past the first line of defence releasing Angus Brown who was stopped short of the line by last ditch tackling by the home sides winger.

This brought about a renewed vigour from the visiting side and with a reshuffle of the scrum with Mark Loveday moving to Prop, Andy Martin moving to lock, Cameron Martin to no8 and Robert Exley moving to the flank brining new rewards and a solidity to the Bears set piece.

Cameron Martin managed to make a good line break from the next scrum setting up phased play that saw good strength, support and offloading out of the tackle from Steven McAleese, Cameron Martin and Mark Straughan which disappointingly resulted in a turnover deep in the home sides 22 meters. However some strong tackling by Robert Exley and again Jack Aitchison forced a knock on by Jarrovians. From the resulting scrum anchored tirelessly for Berwick all day by David Dryden, the Bears won clean ball allowing no8 Cameron Martin to break for the line only to be tackled in to touch on the flag.

Demonstrating how cruel this game can be the Jarrow side managed to break out from the resulting set piece and through their own hard work and endeavour scored their final try against the run of play on 73 minutes, which was converted (36-3)

Desperate to get some thing out of this game the Bears recovered the ball from the kick off and set about attacking the home side at every opportunity . The break through came from a solid team effort, built on hard drives by the forwards, good retention of the ball and good team attacking play that finally released Jamie Pick who finished the game Ashton esc in the corner for his third try in three games.

The final result Jarrovians 36 Bears 8.

Man of the Match Cameron Martin

The final score a fair result on the day, but not totally reflective of the effort put in by the Bears that travelled to Jarrow. They can all hold their head high,for the commitment and effort displayed on the day. Many thanks to Jarrovians for their commitment to spirit of the game of rugby and their hospitality.

Match Facts supplied by Colin Robinson