Rockliff win proves to be a real bonus

WHITLEY Bay Rockcliff claimed their first bonus-point win of the season in Durham and Northumberland League Division One, defeating Sunderland 40-32.

Late changes to the Red and Golds’ team saw Jude Noble drop out at the last minute due to injury to be replaced by the versatile Josh Donnelly, himself returning from a long injury lay-off.

Also returning was Rhys Johnstone, who started with Dan O’Sullivan, Dan Leach, Michael Hansen, Nat Walder, Matt Wilcox, and Aiden Lydall in the backs.

The Bowman brothers Geoff and Liam, Steven Pentland, Andy Dunn, Chris Keen, Connor Madden and Rob Hamilton completed the forward line.

Dan Timney, Jack Weir, and Rob Straker warmed the bench.

Rockliff started well with stand-off Michael Hansen slotting a penalty for an early 3-0 lead.

However, a scrum on the home 22 saw a push release and converted try for the visitors to take a 7-3 advantage in the ninth minute.

Back came Rockcliff with a good nudge from Hansen to reduce the score to 7-6 - only for another Sunderland scrum to lead to a second converted try.

The Rockcliff game plan was to keep the ball away from the Sunderland forwards but they continually ran back into them, conceding too many turnovers.

Hansen kept Rockcliff in touch with a third penalty but a great break from Sunderland’s standoff, which was converted, led to a half-time score of 21-9 to the Wearsiders.

The first score of the second period came from Sunderland.

It looked like the game was over but Rockcliff upped their intensity, tackling well, passing to hands, with some good kicking and bypassing the Sunderland forwards.

Brilliant breaks from Walder, O’Sullivan, Donnelly and a surging charge from Liam Bowman enthralled the crowd and tries followed from Madden, Lydall, Walder and Lydall again.

After a prolonged attack where the forwards battered the Sunderland defence, Johnstone crossed the whitewash in the corner. Hansen added three conversions.

This weekend Rockcliff travel to Teesside outfit Acklam.