Senators maintain unbeaten record after Terriers win

GATESHEAD Senators moved another step closer to an undefeated season with a 20-7 victory against Walney Terriers.

After winning a hard-fought game away to Walney earlier in the season, the Senators knew the return fixture would be no walk in the park.

Gateshead’s No 1-ranked offence set their stall out early on, with Ryan Thomas Fletcher springing running back Gav Barr with a great block to get him free to add another touchdown to his season’s tally. After that, Walney again landed an early blow on the Senators’ defence, marching down the field and scoring quickly to even things up, in a repeat of the early stages in the sides’ first meeting of the season.

However, with some speedy adjustments made by defensive coaches Mark Hume and Craig Million, the Senators D got going.

They proceeded to deliver, with big plays coming from Dan Graham, the returning David “Bus” Bell and yet another outstanding display from Michael Goddard, who is a product of the Senators’ youth team.

With the defence snuffing out any chance of Walney adding to their firstquarter score, Gateshead’s offence went to work.

The “Great Wall of Green” hustled to create lanes for Stephen Taylor, who complemented his lineman with two fine scores to continue his fine season. In the end, Gateshead’s experience shone through and they did a professional job of controlling the game and coming away with a battling victory which moves them to 7-0 for the season.

Despite the victory, head coach Gary Marshall was keen to emphasise to his players afterwards that they should not to get ahead of themselves.

The Senators now focus all their thoughts firmly on this Sunday’s derby game away to Northumberland Lightning.