SUNDERLAND POWER TO DERBY VICTORY
Sunderland claimed a bonus point win at Houghton to move to within two points of second place in Durham Northumberland Two.
The game started well for Houghton as their left winger chased a punt, charged down a clearance kick and followed up to score within two minutes of the kick-off. The conversion was just wide,
Despite creating good ball and potential scoring opportunities as much-travelled David Baines spread the ball from boot or through hand, that was to be Houghton’s only score.
On seven minutes, a wellworked driving maul from a lineout saw Martin Watt take the ball from skipper Joe Arrowsmith to touch down to the right of the posts, to be converted by Leon Ryan.
From a lineout in their own 22, Sunderland worked the phases and with better handling the impressive full back Ryan ran onto the ball at pace.
As he broke tackles and with Farai Chikimbirikie to his right, he opted to pop the ball to outside centre Fletcher Jackson on the inside as he fixed his man for the youngster to pick his line and run in to score under the posts.
Ryan’s conversion took the score to 14-5 after 17 minutes of play, where it remained at half time.
Senior colt Thomas Hogg - making his first team debut starting at 9 - worked the ball well and got a little carried away as he pulled off two dummies inside of his own 22 before being flattened and knocking on.
Luke Victory, Watt and Chris Little worked hard to carry and ruck and captain Arrowsmith admitted he had not run so much in a game so far this season.
The game lacked fluidity in the first half as Sunderland’s retention and unforced handling errors presented ball to Houghton, who in turn could not capitalise from their own possession.
This was due to Sunderland’s defence, notably Brad Walls’ volume of tackles and Luke Victory forcing penalties at the breakdown.
Half time saw Chris Geehan come on for Ryan Buckley at tight head.
An injury to Fletcher Jackson saw Joe Buckley make his debut at outside centre and he put in a very impressive attacking performance, carving a line through Houghton, only to come undone by good cover tackling.
Watt made a lung-testing break from inside the 10-metre line only to be tackled with the try-line in sight.
Sunderland’s continuity improved and as the phases built, Chikimbirikie took the ball in space to outsprint his opposite number, then offload to Ryan who was in close support to crash over.
Pete Harrison made characteristically strong carries and Craig Elstob lapped up his fine lineout ball.
The big hits continued from both sides. Ryan collected a kick in his own half and forged his way into Houghton’s 22.
Prop Will Sopp had stayed in support making some 50 yards to take the offload from Ryan a few metres out to score a well-earned try.
Mark Sears was introduced to the back row in place of Arrowsmith who had turned his ankle, and Dom Younger spent the final 10 minutes in the sin bin for not releasing a tackled player.
Houghton had to reshuffle as scrum half Danny Bradley left the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
A penalty from Ryan ended the game with a 29-5 win for Sunderland.
Sunderland Seconds edged a closely-fought victory over Houghton Seconds at Ashbrooke. Colt Brad Lindsay was awarded man of match by manager Graham Brown.