NURL 1sts – 18
Trinity All Saints Titans – 14
Wednesdays match was the third in a week for Ed Ainscoe’s lethargic troops and the expedition to league home-country left the team feeling a long way from the big eared boys on Leazes field. TASC’s hundred or so supporters were gathered on the field in a scene reminiscent of The Wicker Man and the Ill intent was thinly veiled behind the crowd’s shifty eyes and toothless grins.
Newcastle were missing three props and a half-back against a team boasting Irish International Dan Bowkel and only had two substitutes to call on in the hazy Yorkshire sunshine. Fortunately the royals could finally unleash the combination of Michael ‘Trigger’ Brady and ‘Idiot’ Dave Furniss and the thonking man’s Socrates and Plato were ready to defy the invigorated TASC outfit despite the week’s exhaustive efforts.
John Thompson was sans kicking tee presumably after a neo-pagan observer had mistaken it for a mushroom or magical trinket but he nether-the-less shoed the ball deep into TASC territory to start the match. Immediately NURL incurred the wrath of the official and his wanton whistling quickly became the theme of the first half. Giving penalties for offences as inauspicious as undue frowning and mucky pockets the referee had a tight rein on proceedings and even Trigger Brady’s oratorical skills proved futile in gaining favour for the royals. The penalty count kept possession in TASC hands but Newcastle looked dangerous in the fleeting periods when the ball was in the reliable mits of halves John Thompson and Neil Barrett.
The first score went to Newcastle after a trademark surge and Beadle-hand offload from Bromley-born Michael Ward that sent the winger over in the corner. The highly motivated TASC outfit quickly responded with a converted try after some bruising running from their disciplined burly pack. The Half continued with only a TASC penalty altering the scoreboard as both sides kept watertight defences around the ruck and Newcastle struggled to utilise its flamboyant back line.
The half time break gave the Royals some much-needed respite in the warm conditions as injuries began to test their already depleted interchange. It was, however, the TASC players who were slumped on the floor and this sight and the overdue realisation that this was a knock-out cup match gave Newcastle the impetus to return to the paddock with renewed vigour.
Newcastle Immediately scored what was a carbon copy of their first after good work from Danny Guest, Ste Moorcroft and Ward but the lead only lasted for 10 minutes when TASC’s kicking game began to pay dividends. The lanky stand off peppered the back line like an over-zealous French waiter and a lucky bounce and dubious knock-on both led to unconverted tries for the college.
The embattled NURL outfit finally switched on with 3rd year John Thompson getting his first ever try, atoning for years of lax dogging and setting up a tense final 5 minutes. Furniss made a barnstorming run on the kick return setting a platform for a Thompson bomb that swirled enough to draw a vital knock-on from the fullback. From the resulting scrum NURL put the hands on and neat offloads from Ainscoe and Bryan set up Liam Clarke for the Match winner.
Pancake quaffing portaloo mainstay Steve Moorcroft was justly awarded Man of the match by the Titans after his industrious performance in front of his pregnant wife Debby and sons Steve and Steve Jr.
Lock Moorcroft with his loving family
The draw is yet to be made for the next round but NURL may have good chances if they can keep players away from the doctors scalpel.