SUNDERLAND TURN ON THE POWER FOR WIN
Sunderland hit back from a rocky start to claim an impressive win.
The day could not have got off to a worse start as Sunderland stepped out at Ashbrooke for the first time this season.
With just six minutes on the clock, Ashington streaked into a 12-0 lead, their first score coming from a break down the left wing and their second from a gleefully-accepted interception to race in wide of the uprights.
Sunderland showed good composure, though, and started to gain and retain ball.
On 11 minutes, Sunderland’s pack took an Ashington scrum against the head. Flanker Joe Arrowsmith picked up the loose ball and raced towards the try line giving a little pop to the supporting Jack Hope to crash over out wide. The conversion attempt from Ryan drifted agonisingly wide.
Multiple chances were created in open play to put more points in the board, but Sunderland’s handling ability let them down as the overlaps went begging.
Man of the match, teenage lock Bradley Wall grew into the game as the minutes ticked by with a series of good ball carries, decisive tackles and challenging possession at the breakdown.
A driving maul from a well-worked lineout saw hooker Pete Harrison score out wide left with Ryan converting, bringing the scores level on 19 minutes.
Dean Edmundson scored from intercepted passes on 25 minutes and a penalty from Ryan on 31 minutes took the score to 22-12 in Sunderland’s favour.
Atoning for earlier missed opportunities, Sunderland’s back line worked an overlap which was finished by Harry Connell and converted by Ryan, bringing the half time scores to 29-12.
Marc Edmundson mixed up open play by combining quick ball through hands and teasing kicks to keep Ashington’s back three on their guard, while scrum half Ben Hutchinson sent some great box kicks back into Ashington’s territory and touch to clear lines.
Half time changes saw Grant Edmundson come into the back row for Jack Hope and Will Sopp take over at loose head prop for Kie Hanlon.
Sunderland worked forward phases, pressurising Ashington’s try line and Marc Edmundson called for a ball, taking Ben Hutchinson’s pass on the move and with a show and go created space to streak in under the posts, converted by Ryan.
More stout tackling thwarted Ashington attacks and the pitmen were penalised for a series of high tackles. Ben Hutchinson kicked for touch and Ashington smothered the ball but conceded a penalty on their fivemetre line in doing so.
Skipper Arrowsmith opted to take the scrum which Ashington managed to stop and wheel around causing it to be reset.
Sunderland’s drive was straighter and as the pack drove the ball over the try line, Grant Edmundson failed to touch the ball to score the pushover try. However, the referee had adjudged Ashington’s back row to have broken bindings early to beat Edmundson to the ball and offered Sunderland a penalty.
Taking the scrum, Sunderland broke off and tried a more direct crash ball route, pinning the Ashington pack on their try line.
Hutchinson passed the ball out to Marc Edmundson who found his brother Dean to score, the conversion by Ryan taking the scores to 43-12 with 24 minutes left to play.
Ashington had a player sin binned with less than 10 minutes to play but scored the game’s final points as a kick down the channels was gathered and the Ashington attacker outpaced Sunderland’s winger to score and complete the scoring.
Sunderland’s Development side was narrowly beaten by West End, with good performances in the front row providing selectors with food for thought.