SUNDERLAND SUFFER LOSS TO NORTH SHIELDS
SUNDERLAND LOSE TO D&N LEAGUE RIVALS NORTH SHIELDS 43-20
Sunderland reshuffled their pack for the visit of close Durham & Northumberland league rivals North Shields but went down 43-20.
In what was to become a familiar theme for the game, Sunderland knocked on, surrendering possession, then failed to make tackles allowing North Shields to open scoring with four minutes of play having elapsed.
Sunderland failed to generate momentum through most of the game and invited pressure as they failed to press in defence or deliver quick ball in attack.
Handling errors and slow responses to breakdown decisions mounted to cost the club dear.
Forward set pieces were solid throughout, the scrum posing North Shields particular problems throughout the game to the extent where scrum restart opportunities were declined when presented.
Sunderland were equally dominant in lineout as Robin Watson offered a safe pair of hands for Pete Harrison’s accurate throw ins.
Harrison carried well in attack and was exemplary in defence giving every once of passion and determination he could summon from first to last whistle and challenged his teammates to step up their game.
Mac Edmundson scored a great individual try on 22 minutes placing a wellaimed grubber kick to the corner and race through to touch down, whihc was converted by Leon Ryan.
The good work was immediately undone as North Shields extended their lead.
A Leon Ryan penalty brought the half to a close with the score 19-10 in the visitors favour.
Within a minute of the restart, Shields had extended lead again running through poor tackles.
The younger of the Edmundson brothers (Dean) pulled a score back close the gap to 15-24, rounding his opposite number to score out wide left. Shields were not done scoring their fifth try with a man in the bin for 15-29.
Sunderland conceded out wide again, but applied pressure forcing North Shields to clear lines with the boot for Leon Ryan to mount a galloping counter attack from the wing inside his own half, showing great strength to crash through Shields centres and step full back to score out wide of post with 66 minutes of the game being played.
Chris Little should have scored late on, looking for the losing bonus point for trys scored that captain Luke Victory had pushed so hard for over the closing stages of the game.
A depleted squad, with six junior colts, honoured the second team fixture away at Houghton but were defeated.
Chris Little should have scored late on, looking for the losing bonus point