With a number of players unavailable, skipper Chris Corkin was delighted to head to Gateshead to take on their second xv with a squad of 23. Adam Reay, who has predominantly been deployed at full back this season took the 9 shirt, with Ceejay Beales coming back into fullback after returning from injury. Corkin went with the following to start.

1 Lee Clayton
2 Matty Thornton
3 Jamie Evans
4 Andy Evans
5 Jonnie Kier
6 Chris Corkin (c)
7 Lewy Baldwin
8 Rob Hilton
9 Adam Reay
10 Shane Jeffrey
11 Josh Ward
12 Jack Fletcher
13 Kieran Sanderson
14 Brad Wright
15 Ceejay Beales

Subs
Andy Whitecross
Ralph Bainbridge
Liam Connor
Kieran Wright
Ryan Harrison
Olly Bulley
Paul Craggs
Andy Bulley

After a delay in getting to Gateshead affected the warm up, it was no surprise that Brigade were slow out of the blocks. Brigade kicked off but were soon on the back foot against a well drilled Gateshead team. Their backs looked to play the ball wide at every opportunity and it was no surprise that their winger scored after good play put him through in acres of space with ten minutes played, the conversion was added and Brigade were 7-0 down without really having touched the ball. From the kick off strong carries by Hilton, Clayton and Thornton finally got Brigade some possession but Corkin, blaming the training ball that was being used, failed to turn the penalties gained into territory, with three penalties in a row failing to find touch. On 30 minutes Brigade were back in the game, good play by Sanderson and Beales dragged Brigade up the pitch and onto the five metre line, Adam Reay, who impressed at scrum half, fed Matty Thornton who proved that he’s almost unstoppable from that distance. The conversion was missed but Brigade were back in the game at 7-5.
From the kick off Brigade failed to gather the ball, allowing Gateshead possession who swiftly got the ball out wide to the opposite wing allowing the winger to score in the corner, with the conversion being missed. With half time approaching Brigade worked their way back up the field with the forwards making hard yards against a strong defence, Jeffrey was alert to a gap that he put Sanderson through for a try under the posts from ten metres out with Corkin adding the conversion.

Half time Gateshead II’s 12 BBOB 12

Gateshead kicked off the second half and again Brigade failed to deal with the kick, gifting Gateshead the possession, missed tackles allowed them to score however the conversion was missed. From the resulting kick off it was Brigades turn to regather possession where an infringement at the breakdown allowed Corkin to superbly kick into the corner. Kier gathered clean ball and the driving maul was pushed infield, Kieran Wright, on at scrum half, fed the ever hungry Lee Clayton who had stayed out on the wing, and he managed to force his way over despite the attention of three defenders. The home touch judge put a very late flag up to signal he believed Clayton was in touch, however the referee, quite rightly, overruled this and the try was given. Corkin was inches wide with the touch line conversion and the scores were tied at 17-17 with 30 minutes left to play. Brigades Scrummaging had been unusually average up until this point however the front five started to influence the game more and more. 15 minutes into the second half Gateshead were penalised for standing up in the scrum and Corkin opted for the penalty, scoring from around 30 metres out to give Brigade the lead for the first time. After 25 minutes Gateshead were penalised for offside at the breakdown in almost the same position and Corkin extended the lead to 6 points with 15 minutes remaining. Gateshead threw everything at Brigade and good play between forwards and backs allowed a Gateshead forward to score a try, with the conversion successful, Gateshead were 24-23 up with 5 left to play. Gateshead returned the kick off looking to gain the score to put us out of site however a excellent turnover won by Hilton allowed us to work our way down field with 90 seconds left. Gateshead were penalised for playing the ball on the ground five metres in their own half to the left of the posts. Crucially the referee moved the penalty forward ten metres for dissent and with the last play of the game skipper Corkin elected to kick for posts to win the game. Corkin managed to hold his nerve and sent the kick straight through the middle of the posts to signal the end of the game.
Full time Gateshead II’s 24 BBOB 26

This was a good win against strong opposition. Ceejay Beales had a good game at fullback, looking to run at every opportunity, Lewy Baldwin was his usual nuisance in the back row and Adam Reay looked promising in his stint at Scrum-half however Yesterday’s Gills Food man of the match was Kieran Sanderson who is looking right at home at outside centre, his strong elusive running making is ground all game.

Next week we are away to Horden and Peterlee in a Candy Cup final. Get along and support the lads.