Heartache Again for Vikings

The top 2 teams in the North East Rugby League Premier division met in what turned out to be the best game of the season in a pulsating encounter which went right up to the final minute.
Having gone all season unbeaten Jarrow Vikings took on second place Gateshead Storm in the Premier Grand Final to decide who would represent the North East in the National rounds of the competition.
Gateshead came well prepared and determined to avenge their only 2 defeats of the season at the hands of the Vikings, the Vikings were equally determined to hold onto their 100% record and avoid the heartache they suffered at the same stage last year, when Peterlee Pumas put an end to their quest for the National title.
The 2 teams were well aware of each other and were not about to take things lightly and the early exchanges showed that both sets of coaches had done their homework.
Chances were hard to find and gaps were hard to create as both teams defended as if their lives depended on it.
The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when some determined play from Storm resulted in winger Dale Derby crossing the line for the first try of the game, Adam Houston was unable to add the conversion.
Stunned by this Jarrow rallied and in the 20th minute Gary Bates, forced to play out of position on the wing, was on the end of a superb cross field kick from John Coutts to score in the corner, Coutts unable to convert the try.
A further 20 minutes of cut and thrust from both sides, equally determined in defence as in attack, failed to produce another score and the teams went in at the break tied at 4 – 4, quite surprising for these 2 sides who had been scoring freely throughout the season.
The second period started pretty much as the first had finished, both teams battling for field position, however it was Jarrow that we starting to lose control of the contest and gave away too much possession and field position due to conceding penalties as their frustration grew. Gateshead were able to capitalize on every error and capitalized in the 50th minute when their hooker crossed the line after a series of errors by the home side.
Things got even worse for the home side 5 minutes later when a cross field kick from Houston, almost a carbon copy of the earlier Coutts kick, was collected by the winger who out jumped the Jarrow defender then somehow get the ball down for a try before going into touch, a fine kick from Houston extended the Storm lead to 4 – 16 and things were looking bad for the League Winners.
Some hard running up the middle for prop Mark Walker, in his last game for the Vikings, saw him create an opportunity in the 60th minute for former Gateshead man Chris Burnett to burrow over the line to score, once again the boot of Coutts was just wide of the mark.
The game was really living up to its billing and the tempo was increased again, both teams again rising to the task and working hard for the next score.
The frustration was skill evident in the Vikings side and more uncharacteristic mistakes and frustration from the players as decisions went against them, saw the more composed Storm look to see the game out and were rewarded in the 74th minute with a try and the steady boot of Houston once again opened a 14 point gap up on the Vikings.
Never a team to roll over and concede a game, Jarrow rallied and were marshaled well by the experienced Graham Lupton who with only 3 minutes left on the clock scored a great opportunist try from short range and a fantastic kick from out wide by Coutts set the most nail biting of finishes to the game.
The tension and anticipation was increased even further 2 minutes later when Jarrow second row David Norman powered over to score and another fine kick from Coutts narrowed the gap to just 2 points with only 1 minute to go, that however was the last hope for the valiant Vikings as the experienced Storm just closed out the game and secured a breathtaking 22 – 20 win and be crowned North East Grand Final Winners 2012.
After the game Jarrow coach George Taylor said: “That game was worthy of a Grand Final, it had everything, disallowed scores, questionable decisions, but most of all an unbelievable atmosphere and passion, both sets of players, coaches and supporters should be proud today”. He added: “We spoke to the players during the week and today about the game and there would only be one team that could beat Jarrow Vikings that was Jarrow Vikings. And that was true today, not taking anything away from an outstanding, battling performance from Storm they deserved the victory, but you cannot give away so many penalties and make so many unforced errors against a good side like Gateshead, they will and did, punish you”. “Good luck to them in the next round against Edinburgh Eagles, they will have the support of Jarrow Vikings behind them, I hope they go on to make the North East proud and show we can play a bit of Rugby League up here, also beware for next season we will be ready!”.