SHEFFIELD TIGERS 19 – TYNEDALE 28

Five rookies and a few late changes before kick-off, with captain Oscar Caudle (after his Tonka Toy accident) replaced at No. 3 by Sam Turnhill and James Telford replaced at No. 9 by Dan Baines, while Alex Dodds and Howie Roxburgh came onto the bench.

Sheffield Tigers came flying out of the traps and were 7-0 ahead after only 3 minutes. Tynedale’s response was immediate. On 6 minutes, Seamus Hutton picked up a Josh Leslie grubber to cross for the try, Leslie adding the touch line conversion to level at 7-7.

Sheffield regained the lead on 34 minutes and went into half time 14-7 ahead. Tynedale had competed well enough, but the second half needed a response.
And what a response it was.

On 45 minutes the pack crossed over, (I think, writing this post from memory in a South Shields pub), Leslie adding the conversion to make it 14-14.
Just two minutes later came a brilliant Will Roberts interception. He read it perfectly, picked off the pass and was away for the try. Leslie converted again and, from 14-7 down at half time, suddenly Tynedale were 21-14 ahead.

Archie Fletcher, back from a Scottish Uni, Fletch seemed to cover every blade of grass, competed at every breakdown and was everywhere that mattered. On 56 minutes he got the try his performance deserved, Leslie again converting to put Tynedale 28-14 ahead.
Archie was probably first in the showers after the match, he was that good.

And it wasn’t just Fletcher. The other rookies were terrific at 2, 7, 9 (sub), 12 and 15.
Young Lythgoe at 15 was particularly impressive. He dominated aerially and looked sublime coming into the line, especially in the second half. He looked entirely at home at this level.

Sheffield eventually got another magnificent try on 74 minutes to reduce the deficit to 28-19, but Tynedale saw the game out for a thoroughly deserved away win.
So, the rookies did good. Very good.

From 14-7 down at half time, Tynedale scored 21 unanswered points in 11 second-half minutes. Four tries, four conversions from Josh Leslie and, perhaps most pleasingly, some young players showing they are more than capable of stepping up when required.
And a sad Tiger was left to contemplate Sheffield’s loss, especially after beating their arch-rivals last week, who are now in Nat 1.

Chris Leslie