3TM Away to Acklam Talbots

A sunny but cold Saturday afternoon was the setting for the first early start of the season and Acklam were the hosts.
This game was a battle of the champions with the home team winning last years Merit League title and 3TM coming up after winning last years social league.
From the start it was up front where all the play formed with both packs hitting hard and rucking well however quick ball to the backs was limited as everything was kept in the tight. Handling errors coupled with strong defence meant the sniff of scoring opportunities were lost by both teams. On the quarter hour make 3TM put together some good phases and drove to within a couple of metres of the Acklam line where Stuart Anderson was stopped short but managed to offload to the oncoming Mike Brown to crash over and the big dog announced his return to the field for the first time in a year with the first score of the game (and I understand he is feeling it this morning, don't worry dog, pain is temporary, glory is forever)The score was comfortably converted by Elgie.
The game was still tight and it was the home team who were next to bother the scorers, again it was through a series of forward phases which lead to them going over to the right of the posts with the kick being slotted to level the game.
That seemed to kick 3TM into life. From the restart the ball was fumbled and the chasers hacked the ball through, from here it was a foot race with Marcus Sudron and Paul Bates leading the charge, Sudron got there first but was hauled down by the Acklam defence before even picking up the ball, this would of lead to a penalty try as it was virtually on the line but Bates had followed up to complete the score again converted to put 3TM back 7 clear. Again the home team were to come back with indiscipline and hands in ruck giving away away a penalty and gifting 3 points.
Great work by the forwards set up next score with Phil Kelsey returning for his first game of the season hammering away and Guz doing what Guz does best drawing in the defenders, with there now being room for the backs to move the ball and it was shipped quickly to Mallam on the right wing, he still had plenty to do but after drawing out wide stepped in to score under the posts, conversion came back off the upright.
By now Acklam were tiring and were starting to miss tackles leading for more space for the back line to run. The next to cross was Phil Donaldson, from a scrum he picked up and went, with a lovely dummy pass which was wholeheartedly bought by the opposition 10 he hit a gap and went over to complete a 30 metre score, again the conversion missed.
Half time Acklam Talbot's 10 - 24
Whole sale changes were made for the 2nd half with almost a complete new pack, Brumpton Replacing Lee Simpson on the left wing and Westall replacing Bates in the Centres.
The fresh legs meant that 3TM were on the offensive from the off and to be fair were rarely threatened again. It wasn't long before the lead was extended, as strong running from Marcus Sudron cut through the back line to go over, Elgie with his kicking boots back on added the 2. The next score came from a lovely bit of work again from Sudron. A perfectly weighted chip over the top couldn't have bounced any better for the chasing Westall who took the ball in his stride and went over again with Elgie adding the 2. 3TM were now out of sight but to Acklam's credit they dug in and hit tackle after tackle. The final score was to come from Mallam who had been a thorn in the home teams side all afternoon, not only with his pace going forward but some impressive cover tackling from a skinny lad, after again good work from the forwards the ball was moved out, Mallam had cut in from his wing and took the ball at pace, going through untouched and Elgie finished the scoring with the extra 2.
This was a typical game of forwards setting up a great platform for the backs to run in the tries.
After a shaky start to the season 3TM are now making a run at the league, With all our home games coming in the 2nd half of the season and playing like this could we be looking at champions 2 years in a row? Who knows but I'm sure we are in for an interesting run in.
Final Score Acklam Talbot's 10 - 45 Billingham 3TM.
Tries Mallam 2, Brown, Bates, Donaldson, Sudron, Westall
Man of the Match Chris Mallam (p.s. Chris, don't believe anything 3TM tell you, I'm sure they enjoyed the hat trick jug though ;))