Rugby players are a superstitious bunch and will often talk of omens before a game so when a young lady introduced herself as the referee a lot of the players started to act a little strangely. Vaseline was replaced by hair gel and deep heat by aftershave, and this was just the forwards. It's fascinating the lengths that players will go to to exorcise a demon.
The vets made easy work of this cup semi final with a very classy victory in difficult blustery conditions. As is always the case at Tynedale Park when it is windy it blows straight down the pitch and for any side to have a chance of victory they must first master the conditions and adapt their game plan to suite. This is something that the Tynedale players have grown up with and Wallsend had no answer to this or the power and pace of the Vets players with the back line in particular cutting the Eagles defence open at leisure.
Captain Graham Yates won the toss and elected to play into the wind first and right from the start the Vets forward platform was established with Ian Charlton in particular looking mean, and grey. He was ably supported by Richard Jones, back in the team after spending a few weeks investing his city bonus in wind farm technology and born again fit Fergus Mitchell. With these players in such fine form momentum up the pitch was rapid and half backs Craig Johnson and Alan Moses released their backs on the front foot allowing centres Scott Ferguson and the returning Rod Wallace, who forced his way back into the team after having a tantrum with the team selection panel, breaking through the Wallsend defence at regular intervals to help themselves to a brace of tries each.
Wallsend then got onto the score sheet after kicking long downfield. Full back John Eustace fielded the catch but could only run the ball into touch allowing the Eagles forwards to catch and drive towards the line. A quick pass to the speedy blindside winger saw him cross in the corner, the try converted.
The Vets responded straight from the re-start when the kick was taken by a hard charging Marcus Davison who recycled the ball allowing the back line to cut loose again, the move ending with Moses scoring. Flanker Stu Marshall had to leave the field with a pulled muscle allowing replacement and minor Tynedale celebrity Shaun Fenwick the chance for his annual run out. A reshuffle in the pack saw him slot in to hooker with Richard Parker moving into the back row.
With the Wallsend heads dropping No.8 Yates scored the forwards solitary try just before half time.
After the break and now with the wind at their backs the second half belonged to the Vets and winger Andy Purvis in particular who ran in four tries during the period. This may have been down to his extraordinary talent, or the fact that neither Ferguson nor Wallace wanted their jug buying hatrick. Whatever the reason Tynedale ended with a try tally of ten, five of which were converted. Wallsend did manage to sneak a late one in the corner but it was too little too late for the travelling Tynesiders.
The final of the Northumberland Junior Challenge Trophy will take place on Saturday 15th March at a venue to be decided.