Sat 14 Dec 2019
At long last we have our first win! With what was undoubtedly our best all-round team performance, we overpowered a doughty Blyth, who are definitely not the worst side we've played this season. Playing with a stiff breeze and December sunshine at our backs, Gos took a well-deserved lead on ten minutes, when a defensive kick from Blyth on halfway caught the wind and our newest debutant, James Willis, pounced on the stray ball and raced over to score beneath the posts for Mat Struthers to convert (7-10). Straight away the hosts strung together some crisp passes for speedy winger, Callum Atkinson, to cross for an unconverted try (7-5). The score stayed the same until the 19th minute, when a concerted passage of play saw prop, Pete Lyon, crashing over under the posts. [I know - a collector's item!!] Almost unbelievably Mat Struthers did an Alan Shearer and put the conversion kick into the top corner - BUT UNDER THE BAR!! (12-5). He made amends on 28 minutes, when he converted a powerful try by the ubiquitous Marc Burton (19-5). Three minutes later more pressure saw James Willis produce a fine sleight of hand to help full-back, Devon Gurr, cross wide-out for the bonus point fourth try, which was converted magnicently by Mat Struthers in the tricky wind (26-5) - the halftime score.
Now facing the elements, Gos had to really gel going into the second-half. This they did - and then some! - as in the 50th minute Marc Burton was to power over again for his second try of the afternoon. The wind proved too much for Sruths (31-5). The score stayed that way until the 62nd minute, when centre, James Weaver, picked up a loose ball on halfway to race the 50 metres to score by the posts for Struths to convert (38-5). This was repeated on 29 minutes when replacement, George Wallis, ran powerfully for some 60 metres to pass inside to Marc Burton, who scored his hat-trick try. Mat struthers converted (45-5). Only four minutes later one of the other replacement, Cameron Kirk, burst away from the home defence for another try, which was not converted this time into the strong wind (50-5). There was still time for centre, Mat Struthers, to intercept a speculative Blyth pass to race over from halfway - his conversion was good to leave the final score 57-5. What a transformation and a real boost for the post Christmas games, which start away to Seaton Carew on Jan 4th.
Have a great Christmas and an even better New Year from all at GRFC!!
