Sat 7 Mar 2020
Match report 7th March 2020...Mal Bell
Gosforth 41 v 13 Sedgefield
Sedgefield kicked off in to a strong wind and had the majority of the possession and territory in the opening minutes but they were unable to pierce the Gosforth defence. after 8 minutes, Gosforth, at last found their way into the visitors' half and Matty Struthers and Devon Gurr combined to allow the latter to cross for a try which he converted for a 7-0 lead. Both sides were struggling with their handling in the windy conditions and an error by the home backs allowed their Sedgefield counterparts to hack the ball down the field into the home 22 and a trip by a Gosforth player led to a successful penalty and a 7-3 scoreline. Gosforth with the wind at their backs, needed to attack and within minutes Gurr and Struthers again combined to put full back, Jack Vening into a gap and he scored under the posts with Gurr converting to take the score to 14-3.
Sedgefield started to put some phases together and put a lot of pressure on the home try line which eventually was rewarded when they breached the Gosforth line to force their way over to score and reduce the deficit to 14-8 midway through the first half. Sedgefield continued to attack but when they lost possession, Struthers hooked the ball downfield where it came to rest in the in-goal area. Sedgefield easily managed to touch the ball down but made a mistake with the resulting 22 drop out, the kick went straight to Kieron Locke who weaved his way through a static defence for a superb individual try. Gurr again converted to take the score to 21-8, which remained unchanged in the 5 minutes up to half time.
Gosforth now playing into the strong wind started the second half unsure if their lead was going to be enough. Those doubts were quickly erased with a excellent start to the half when Locke picked up at the back of a scrum and fed Struthers who passed to Josh Unthank to cross for a 4th try and a bonus point, 26-8.
With the wind behind them Sedgefield had most of the possession but the Gosforth defence were more than equal to the task. Their only laspe came when the visitors took a quick penalty and scored a second try to bring the lead to within two scores, 26-13. With almost half an hour still to play, this could have been a worry but the home side were playing with a lot of confidence and scrum-half Owen Ramsey, almost scored but was tap tackled just yards from the line. Gosforth remained in the away 22 and won a penalty which Gurr converted for a 29-13 lead.
Into the last quarter of an hour, the Green and Whites played some of their best rugby of the season, with replacement James Weaver, Unthank, Struthers and Gurr running and passing ball well won by the forwards, Josh Unthank and Devon Gurr posted their second tries and a conversion by Gurr took his personal tally of points to 21, the final score being 41-13. A throughly deserved win by Gosforth well done lads.
Next game is against Sunderland who are currently second in the league winning at Winlaton 17-26 today.
The game is again at Broadway West on Saturday 14th March with a 3pm kick off
