First-half surge seals derby joy

A fluid team performance saw Sunderland Under-14s blitz Horden and Peterlee in an impressive first-half showing on the way to a 3414 derby victory.

The Ashbrooke youngsters penned the home side in their own 22 with a series attacking waves.

Second row and captain Josh Jobling finished off one sweeping move, orchestrated by the impressive backline, courtesy of an exquisite dummy, and he later added a second.

With a rock-solid forward platform providing the base, strongrunning inside centre Vince Hessel and partner Zak Kennedy cut through Horden’s stretched defence to extend the score, with fly-half Chris Rochelle adding one conversion.

Adam Williams crashed over to increase Sunderland’s lead to 27-7 at the break.

The second half started with strong drives from loose head prop James Docherty and No 8 Williams, before Hessel added his second try, converted with aplomb by Rochelle.

Debutant scrum-half Thomas Hailes put in a solid shift, while Docherty was denied a try, deemed to be held up over the line, and Kennedy missed out by inches.

With the penalty count mounting alarmingly against the visitors, Horden were able to grab a second try following a well-worked move, but Sunderland were too strong overall, completing the double over their neighbours.