Acklam 48 Gateshead 10

Acklam get back to winning ways with a fine performance against Gateshead

Acklam returned to winning ways with a very good performance, running in 7 tries against visitors Gateshead.
Acklam were soon ahead; Gateshead knocked on from the kick off and were caught offside from the resulting scrum and scrum half Danny Ashton kicked a straightforward penalty. Then Paddy O'Brien took the restart well, centre Ricky Scott made a half break and the ball was moved right for Marcus Sudron to weave his way through for a good try under the posts. Ashton had an easy conversion to make it 10 nil after only 5 minutes.
Acklam's powerful winger Josh Abraham was returning from an injury and midway through the half looped around from the blindside to break the line then beat the last defender for another fine score. Ten minutes later Abraham scored again after another good break by Sudron, giving Acklam a 24 nil lead. There was a slight change in momentum in the last 10 minutes of the half - Acklam had been well on top in the scrums but then came under pressure themselves and the visitors took advantage to steal the ball and score a try of their own to reduce the arrears to 24 - 5 at half time.
Acklam opened the second half by running the ball and although a pass went to ground it was well recovered by Sudron and when full back Brad Gater was stopped the ball was worked out to the right for Abraham to again beat the last man to go round behind the posts for his hat trick. A few minutes later with the visitors pressing Acklam won the ball deep in their own 22 and broke away with winger Jordan Mockler showing a good turn of pace to race in from halfway.
Gateshead weren't finished yet however and after using the wind to gain territory they scored their second try to make it 36 -10. Acklam were happy to keep the game open with some great attacking play in the last quarter - lovely support play with new back row Theo Guignard featuring twice was finished off by skipper Ben Pearson. The last score came when Scott made the break for replacement Liam McCalmont to score a fine try on debut. The final score - an excellent 48 - 10 victory for Acklam. They have a week off now, followed by a tough trip to Novocastrians on 13th October

Paul I'Anson