FLAMES FIRED UP FOR HALIFAX CUP CLASH
SUNDERLAND FIRSTS ENJOY A WEEK OFF, SO THE WOMEN TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT ASHBROOKE
Sunderland RFC’s women’s team, the Flames, take centre stage this weekend, with a cup match at home to Halifax Ladies at Ashbrooke on Sunday.
Vice-captain Clarissa Murphy says that the Wearsiders have been working hard on ironing out mistakes which had coat them vital points in recent games, particularly last week’s narrow home defeat to Southport.
She said, “Each week we are looking to build on our previous performances. Despite Halifax not being in our league, we know they are a very physical side which will help us continue to work on our new defensive system.
“We look to have a few changes in the team this week, which will be good experience for some of the newer girls coming through to get to know our game plan.
“For us, it will be looking for more positives in our game than negatives and proving to ourselves and the coaches that we can put training into practise.”
Meanwhile, the men’s first XV have a well-earned week off on Saturday, after notching their first league win last weekend.
The seconds are in action, though, taking on Ponteland.
There are just two junior fixtures on Sunday, with S under landU14s hosting Bishop Auckland and the U15s entertaining Billingham.
On Wednesday, Thornhill and St Aidans RC Academies’ Y9 teams are both in Durham County Cup action at Blaydon.
A depleted Sunderland Under-14 squad fought back at the death to secure a hardfought 38-24 win at Consett..
Missing eight regulars, the reshuffled Ashbrooke side went two scores down before full-back Vincent Hessel claimed a brace with his powerful running.
Dynamic Adam Williams crashed over to hand Sunderland a narrow advantage at the break. Chris Rochelle kicked two conversions.
Hooker David Matloch took a short line-out to prop James Docherty and collected an offload to score in the corner. Consett grabbed two more tries to even the scores at 24-24, but Hessel fed Rochelle, who cut through to score under the posts. Zak Kennedy added a last-gasp try, with winger Ben McRory converting.
Flanker Jai Swalwell was a constant threat as Sunderland’s forwards fought to get a foothold.
Sunderland Under-U15s beat Consett 50-41 in an entertaining encounter.
Sunderland led 17-5 at half-time with tries by Jacob Feeney, Ollie Beattie and Archie Elwell. Tries followed steadily after the break, with further scores by Beattie and Feeney, plus tries by Caleb Lowes, Joe Cowie and a first score for winger Tom Barrow. Fly-half Rowan May added five conversions.