Sunderland in seventh heaven after proving too strong for Colts
Seven-try Sunderland Colts Academy cut loose in a 39-12 victory over a youthful Gateshead Colts in an entertaining encounter on Tyneside.
Centre and captain Jacob Feeney opened the scoring for the Ashbrooke side when he cut through Gateshead’s trailing defence on the back of a good spell of possession.
Within five minutes, prop James Docherty put Sunderland further ahead after a couple of turnovers, crashing over theline.Feeneyaddingtheconversion.
Number eight, Oliver Beattie got on the end of a flowing move to score wide out, for try number three, before scrum halfJackThorntonsnipedover for the fourth, following a series of rucks.
Sunderland’s watertight defence kept Gatesehad at bay, with Tom Batters and Will Harlow-Stephenson leading the way, while makeshifthookerArchieElwellproducedastrongperformancein the pack.
After half time, Sunderland’sbacksbegantopicklines through Gateshead’s threequarter line. Adam Stormont stepped, then carved his way upthemiddle,outstrippingthe coveringGatesheaddefenceto touch down in the corner.
FlyhalfChrisRochellepoweredaroundGateshead’sbacklinetoaddasixth,convertedby himself,beforescrumhalfTom Howe,claimedthevisitor’slast trygettingontheendofabreak bycentreEthanMarrs,todummyandscore,rightoftheposts.
However, Gateshead refused to lie down and Sunderland’s infringements allowed them back into the game to score twice in the final minutes.
The game, on Sunday, was
played under the RFU’s adapted rules (no scrums or mauls) and is the Academy’s third this month,followinga21-19injury time loss to Hartlepool Academy last weekend and a 32-8 away win over Horden and Peterlee
Colts.
Tonight, the squad face neighbours Houghton under the lights at Dairy Lane.
*Highlights of the British and Irish Lions’ series against South Africa are to be shown on terrestrial TV.
Channel 4 will broadcast footage from the three Tests against the world champions and will also provide live coverage of the pre-tour warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield
on June 26.
It will be the first time that Lions matches are shown on terrestrial TV since the 1993 tour to New Zealand. In addition, All4 will televise highlights of all tour matches.