Chick eggs on team to victory

Ponteland travelled in a downpour to play the first game of the league season in wet conditions. With Alex Rogers (Newcastle Falcons) in attendance, Pont gave league debuts to Iain Lyndon and Sam Windess. With a large visiting crowd Pont kicked off and immediately pushed the home team back. A couple of good scrums saw Carew penalised and Chick slotted a 30 metre penalty 3-0 (5mins). Whilst the wet ball was causing problems for both sides Pont tried to run at every occasion. A sweeping break out saw Chick extend the lead 6-0 (17 mins) From the kick off Pont dropped the ball as Carew made their first inroads into the visitors 22. A penalty hit the upright and Pont did well to scramble the ball away. The home team spent long periods on the defensive but their tackling was holding Pont at bay. A counter attack by Newbigin saw Lyndon held up short of the line. Pont continued to press hard and as a Carew scrum disintegrated on their 22 Chick again added the points 9-0 ( 28 mins) it was all Pont as a further adventurous move down the pitch saw Pont dominate the scrum with a yellow to a home player. Pont nominated a further scrum and a set play saw Chick over for a well worked try. His conversion gave him all of the team points as the whistle went HT 16-0
With 90% of all the penalties awarded at the breakdown Pont had fared well with possession and penalties in the first half. It was Seaton Carew's turn in the second half as they had the majority of the play. An early attack was thwarted by an excellent Herbert turn over led to Searle almost scoring at the other end. A lost lineout on the home 22 saw Pont pushed downfield and at a ruck on their 22 a Carew player ghosted through the pillar defence to score a simple converted try 16-7 (49 mins) Pont were now defending waves of attacks as Searle was shown yellow. The home team pressure showed as a short pick and drive resulted in a Carew try 16-12 (72 mins). This appeared to galvanise Pont as the kick off went deep. As the defender caught the ball he was wiped out by a massive tackle by Lyndon who proceeded to collect the ball and score in the corner 21-12 (74 mins) From the kick off Carew attacked and West ripped a ball free. Chick made ground and a perfectly weighted kick saw Murphy successfully challenge the defender in the air, only for the ball to fall free with the line beckoning. Further pressure from Pont moved them downfield and after several successful scrums Carew were shunted over their own line with Newbigin claiming the try 26-12. (77 mins). With the clock running down Carew attacked one last time and claimed a consolation try on the whistle 26-17 (80 mins)
Pont were pleased to get a win under their belt against a hard tackling, no nonsense team and it was great to see the home side with a 2nd team match on and traditional rugby drinking games afterwards – a proper rugby club.