ASHBROOKE SALUTED DESPITE CUP SEMI KO
CHAIRMAN GEEHAN IMPRESSED BY YOUTHFUL SUNDERLAND IN CUP LOSS TO GATESHEAD
Sunderland chairman Paul Geehan hailed the efforts of a youthful side as they bowed out to higher league opposition in Saturday’s Durham Intermediate Cup semi-final showdown at Ashbrooke.
The Wearsiders welcomed high-flying Durham Northumberland One side Gateshead, but, despite going ahead, lost out 31-7 in a game which underlined their battling spirit.
Geehan said: “The forwards dominated the game, but the difference in leagues only shone through in the last 20 mins when gaps appeared.
“Gateshead’s committee stated that was one of their hardest games all season and our coaches had worked all week on defence and that paid off.
“The first half was played at a fantastic pace and passion, with Sunderland attacking at speed and showing impressive commitment in defence to keep pressure on the visiting side.
“Gateshead have commented that at times they thought there were 20 Sunderland players on the pitch.”
Props Andrew Stewart and Ryan Buckley, Sunderland’s man of the match, carried the ball impressively, getting Sunderland over the gain line and with hooker Pete Harrison, were a disruptive force at the breakdown.
The first score went Sunderland’s way when fly-half Marc Edmundson intercepted a midfield pass to sprint in and score under posts, converted by half-back partner Brad Fish for a 7-0 lead.
Scrums were equal, with both sides retaining their own ball, and lineouts were well contested throughout, with the experienced Peter Carter and Andy Wordsworth making excellent calls and flankers Joe Arrowsmith and Chris Little reacting quickly to tidy up loose ball.
Sunderland were unlucky in attack as, with one defender to beat and two players in support, Edmundson slipped, losing his footing and ball at the critical moment.
The Ashbrooke side reached the break still seven points up.
The second half saw Gateshead get on the board via an early penalty and a converted try within 10 minutes of the restart.
They began to string some great support play together, through the back rows and centres, but had to wait a further 15 minutes to extend the score.
The pace of the first half began to tell as the second period entered its final quarter as Sunderland’s defence began to wilt against a very well organised Gateshead attack.
Sunderland introduced Harry Connell, Jordan Scott, James Fraser and Chris Geehan to give fresh legs, and they had periods of attacking pressure well defended by Gateshead, who eventually increased their lead, with tries coming from full-back Scott Cartner, winger Adam Ridley, flanker Lewis Lacey and fly-half Jonathan Foster.
Cartner kicked four conversions and a penalty.
Sunderland chairman Geehan concluded: “The boys played some very good rugby on the day.
“It was very encouraging performance against a higher league opposition to take into our final games of season.”