Chris Leslie's Match Report:-

Sedgley Park 33-16 Tynedale
Second defeat, but the manner of it was very different from last Saturday, with Beaty leading by example, Fletcher putting in a considerable tackle count and Leslie providing control - all impressing against a strong home-side performance.

Sedgley had beaten DMP only two weeks ago, so hardly the easiest place to find a response. Jimmy Lythgoe’s try, converted by Josh Leslie, gave Tyne a 7–0 lead after 8 minutes. Sedgley levelled on 12 minutes, then added tries on 20 and 31 minutes to move 21–7 ahead.

Tyne didn’t disappear in the strong wind though. Leslie penalties on 34 and 39 minutes brought it back to 21-13 at half-time, and his long-range penalty on 48 minutes narrowed the gap to 21–16. Game on.

There were a few finely balanced refereeing moments along the way. A scrum penalty to Tynedale on their own 5m line was reversed after a Tyne player ruffled an opponent’s hair, while the pass for Sedgley’s 61st-minute try certainly looked forward from where I was high in the stand with the legend Peter Robertson. Such are the margins in rugby.

But Tyne contributed to their own problems. Too many high-tackle penalties and some costly lineout failures at important moments handed Sedgley territory and opportunities.
Their catch-and-drive was routinely effective and the late 79th-minute score stretched what had been a close contest into a 33-16 final scoreline which, for me, rather exaggerated the difference between the sides on the day.

There were several unavailabilities, but no excuses required. The away-day near Manchester was really about the character of the team. They fronted up, stayed in the fight and made a very good Sedgley side work for it.

And two notable markers at opposite ends of the spectrum - Chris Wearmouth making his 150th National League appearance for Tynedale, an impressive one-third of his 450 National League games, while young confident bus singer Alfie Scott made his debut and was immediately introduced to proceedings with four tackles in his 12-minute baptism. Welcome to National League rugby, young fella.
Still a defeat, but a world away from last week.