SEVEN-TRY ASHBROOKE SEND SHIELDS PACKING
SLICK SUNDERLAND STORM TO BONUS-POINT TRIUMPH AGAINST VISITORS SOUTH SHIELDS
Sunderland cruised to a bonus-point 41-10 success against South Shields in Durham/Northumberland Division Two on Saturday.
Two quickfire unconverted tries set up the Ashbrooke side, and the home side capitalised on poor tackling to run in a third.
The bonus point was secured before the interval as a text book catch and drive brought a fourth try of the afternoon.
Sunderland struck again early in the second period before the visitors rallied with a penalty and, after a yellow card, a converted try.
Sunderland, though, finished the stronger side and added two more tries before a number of altercations in a rumbustious finale forced the referee to work hard to keep control.
The Ashbrooke side sit fifth in the table, with eight wins and five defeats. They visit fourth-top Bishop Auckland this weekend.
In Division One, Horden & Peterlee secured a pack-inspired 24-17 victory at Consett to make it back to back victories.
The powerhouse forward unit scored two pushover tries as the colliery side registered a bonus-point success.
Head coach Glenn Bowman said: “It was a close game but a deserved win.
“All the lads stuck at it throughout the 80 minutes and everyone of them played their part.”
Hunt squeezed in at the corner of Horden’s first try, while Andrew King touched down for the pair of pushover tries, while Danny Groves grabbed the colliers’ other score, bursting over the line after the forwards showed patience and worked a series of short drives.
Full-back David Mason added a couple of conversions.
Consett never gave up and battled back to within a score, setting up an exciting last 10 minutes, with the home team throwing everything at Horden, who defended well with Chris Reilly kicking well from number 10.