Seaham seal win in rugged encounter

Seaham triumphed 19-17 at Prudhoe & Stocksfield in a close and exciting encounter.

The opening quarter was played in hostile conditions as a strong wind blew the rain sideways across the pitch.

Seaham adapted better to the conditions and opened the scoring on 19 minutes when fly half Graeme Steel took a long Jack Adamson pass and dived over for a try.

There was an element of bickering between both packs as they looked to establish the upper hand. The hosts’ scrum half took advantage of the silly distractions and dummied his way over for a try three minutes later. The conversion gave them a 7-5 lead.

Seaham’s pack looked immense all game as they shoved their hosts back at will. This paid dividends just before the half-hour when they were awarded a five-metre scrum and shunted their counterparts over their own line. Big number 8 Chris Bland collected from the base and burrowed over for his 11th try of the season. Glen Hardie’s conversion stretched the lead to 12-7.

Prudhoe were to have the last say of the half when solid pressure earned a brace of penalties, with the second successful.

Seaham scored a try in the second half when Jack Adamson drew in two defenders before passing to Mick Bland, the 6’8” second row galloping over from 30 metres. Graeme Steel’s conversion made it 19-10.

The Harbour’s joy was cut short on 54 minutes when Hardie was unfortunate to be sin-binned for a high tackle.

Seaham defended well throughout the tenminute spell they were a man down, but the penalty count got a little high.

The hosts missed a penalty but eventually forced their way over for a converted try with 10 minutes remaining to once again narrow the deficit to two points.

Both sides went hammer and tongs as they looked to land a final score, but neither could manage it as Seaham held on for the victory.