It was a very different looking North Shields side that made the short trip up the coast to take on Ashington at their place, knowing that a victory would be enough to secure Promotion up to DN1. The return fixture in the league had seen the boys in Blue & White take a convincing win but the cup fixture at the beginning of the year showed that Ash were a very different side at home and with more than 10 first team players unavailable those who pulled on the Blue & White jersey were well aware of the task at hand.
Shields started well and opened the scoring when Ciaran Wrightson won the foot race to a kick through, Chris McCabe chased hard and as the Ashington winger tried to collect the ball Macca tackled him and he lost the ball allowing Ciaran to dive on the loose ball. Sam Brooks conversion attempt just drifted wide. Ash got a quick response after a kick to the corner and a rolling maul they crashed over to pull the scores level. Shields then got an opportunity to go in front and although Sam Brooks missed his first attempt at goal he got an chance to make amends moments later and slotted the goal to take the visitors ahead.
As the weather took a turn for the worse, the driving sideways rain meant that there was error after error and Ashington were able to build some momentum with dominance in the set piece. This meant that they were camped on the Shields line and eventually were able to cross to regain the lead. This dominance at the scrum bore fruit resulting in a penalty try and Leon Van Zanvliet being sent to the sin bin. Shields managed to hit back with a try from veteran Brett Sylph following some strong carries from Dalton and Carr and then Brooks kicked a goal just on the stroke of half time to leave the score at the break Ashington 17-18 North Shields.
The message from Coach Christie at the break was for the Blue & White army to be more disciplined without the ball and more patient in attack and to play to the conditions. This proved to be useful as Ashington spent the first 20 mins of the second half camped on the Shields line and despite conceding numerous penalties they managed to hold the hosts out before they managed to make the most of an overlap and crash over out wide. This was quickly followed by another score quickly after which was converted to put Ash 29-18 ahead. The Shields boys regrouped behind the sticks and came out with a renewed determination led by fly half Simon Ayre who took the game by the scruff of the neck. He scored a try of his own with a fine individual break to dive over the line allowing Brooks the simple conversion from in front of the sticks and then made another break from deep. As the ball was worked wide Chris McCabe threw a fine cut out ball to the fans’ favourite Matty Dockey who took the ball on the half way line and set off at pace for the corner. With only minutes left the Shields supporters on the side line began to get excited as they’d seen this many times before this season with the speedy winger in open space only for the home fullback to pull off an excellent cover tackle and force Dockey into touch as he dived for the line taking the corner flag out in the process.
It looked for all the world that Shield’s opportunity to steal the win had gone but after some heroic defending and another trademark turnover from Flash Richard Carr Shields got a chance for one last assault on the Ashington line and after a driving maul was halted Harry Watson making his comeback appearance after a long term injury managed to squeeze his way over the line and got the ball down. Brooks stepped up and took his full allocated amount of time for the conversion and as his kick split the uprights the referee indicated full time and the smash and grab was done! Shields had come from 11 points down with 5 minutes to go to achieve the almost impossible and with the win Promotion was clinched! Cue the celebrations and a loud rendition of Christie’s Effing Magic!
With two games remaining Promotion to Durham & Northumberland 1 has been secured, and with the County Senior Plate already in the bag 2018-19 has proven to be a very fruitful season for the Blue & White Army!
Simon Ayre was awarded Man of the Match after another outstanding display in the 10 shirt and we now have two home games to look forward to next weekend as the 1st XV welcome Sedgefield to Preston Playing Fields, keen to make amends for only being able to pick up a draw back in December in the reverse fixture.
Ashington 28-32 North Shields
North Shields:
Leon Van Zanvliet, Ben Lemmons, Chris Allott, Mark Charles Hall, Dave Anderson, Richard Carr, Kyron Atkinson, Brett Sylph, Sam Brooks, Simon Ayre, Matty Dockey, Ben Dalton, Will Forster, Ciaran Wrightson, Chris McCabe
Chris Spedding, Harry Watson, Wayne Turnbull,