On paper, this may look like a comfortable stroll to the County Cup final but, this full-blooded semifinal was anything but easy.

A slow start saw the home side take advantage of confusion at the back of a defensive ruck to open the scoring. Good work from forwards Joabe Biautubu, Robbie Binks, Ian Charlton and Will Roberts took play from halfway almost to the line and it required the concession of a penalty to prevent a levelling try. Cameron Crawford took control, quickly tapped on the 5 metre line, ducked low beneath defenders, and stretched out a long arm to place the ball on the whitewash.

Strong running from outstanding centre partners, Martyn Hutton and Oliver Hillary, released Michael Ramsay. The prop forward showed great acceleration to race home from 30 metres. Lively half-backs Andy Harvey and Allan Hyslop sent Hillary off on another jinking run and this time he provided the scoring pass for Alex Anson. From the kick off Hillary raced forward and set free speedster Anson to add his second try with some style.

Whilst the Centurions were scoring freely at one end, the hosts were never out of the game and it was only some tough tackling in midfield that held up their strong runners. When they did manage to break through, full-back Josh Adams, number 8 Henry Barnes, flankers Crawford and Kael Horton, working tirelessly, produced try-saving tackles.

This stout defence turned into attack when Hyslop relieved pressure with a well placed kick into space. A great follow up by Josh Schollick saw the ball go loose and Barnes arrive to gather and power home. Never disheartened, Morpeth had their reward with a try after being awarded multiple penalties to leave the score at half-time, 12 - 33.

The Edwardians started really well after the break and it required another sound defensive set to keep them at bay as they threw caution to the wind to try and gain a foothold in the tie. A key moment then came as Jake Sloan made a thumping defensive tackle close to his own line, dislodging the ball. An alert Hyslop was on hand to release Sloan who had recovered quickly to get back in the action. Running well to halfway, he realised that he didn't have the pace to beat two covering wingers and timed a beautiful pass to the flying Anson. The winger turned on the afterburners and scorched home for a well-deserved hat-trick.

A close range home try, drew a quick response as Ed Weir, Paul Winter and Joe Mills forced a penalty with their relentless hard work at a ruck. The dancing feet of Hillary saw him make good ground from the Harvey tap. Held short, Ryan Laverty was on hand to crash across the line. Harvey added his second conversion, after Hyslop had slotted four in the first half, to complete the Centurions scoring.

Morpeth added a final try near the end but that could not change the course of this hard fought semifinal. The victory had been decided as much by dogged Tynedale defending as the fine tries that they were able to construct and finish well.

Martyn Hastie