3TM return to Greenwood with a vengeance

Billingham 3TM V Boro Thirds
On a perfect day for flowing rugby 3TM took to the field for their first home game at Greenwood. Manager Richie Morrison had worked hard all week to ensure a balanced side for what is usually a tough game. This saw the return to the field after injury, lay off or supposed retirement of Smith, Blenkinsop, Shea and Woodhouse. Unusually they turned up short and in typical 3TM style lent them two strong players. The game set off at blistering pace with Boro pressing hard and could have gone ahead with a penalty after Bates was ruled to have tackled without arms although the hit was so hard the Boro forward was knocked back out of reach. Simpson and Sixsmith had a lot of work to do as the Boro backs hammered into them. On twenty minutes after several phases Guz drove over from five metres. Four minutes later a turn over at the scrum saw Child pick up at the base and power over with Donaldson slotting the kick from wide. Morrison rang the changes bringing on Woodhouse at nine and Surtees for Guz. Thompson caught the ball from the long kick off and with a clever switch of play released Irvine who made great gains linking well with the backs until the play broke down. From the resulting scrum Watson again drew players and popped to Woody who passed from the tackle to the ever supporting Kelsey. Breaking two tackles he set off at a gallop hitting Sando with a perfect pass for the try of the game (well one of them). 3TM could have gone further ahead when Mallam broke clear but was stopped with a last gasp shirt grab which at first looked like a “collar” tackle but was adjudged to be legal. Just before the turn around Billingham pressed hard and Bates unusually in the power house drove over with Donaldson slotting the kick.
Half Time 3TM 24 – Boro 0
Morrison rang the changes bringing the strong running O’Callaghan on for Sanderson, Blenkinsop up front, Robinson in the centre, Guz returning at eight nd the long absent Shea at the back. Billingham pressed on and experience showed when Woody took a quick tap to pass out of the tackle to an ever present Kelsey. A Boro hand flailed out to stop what was a certain try and referee Nick Moore blew for a deliberate knock on. Smith took a quick tap and stormed over with desperate tacklers hanging off him. This was his last contribution as he tweaked a calf and Col Dickenson returned to the fray. Shea celebrated his return to competitive rugby with a superb backs move to go over in the corner. Boro finally got on the score sheet with a great solo effort by Mallam?? Yes he scored for the opposition as he switched at half time. Child came on in the front row to replace Thompson with the hard hitting Surtees moving to blind side. With three quarters of the game gone Kelsey took a ball outside of the twenty after a weaving Donaldson run and continued to duck, dive and bulldoze his way through several desperate tackles to score. 3TM dominated the line out through Gray and the scrum through a powerful pack and with Boro being pushed back Woodhouse picked up and sprinted in untouched from the twenty metre line. Child notched up the fifty plus points with a final drive over in the dying seconds to finish off a superb all round vintage 3TM performance.
Full Time 3TM 54 – Boro 0
Scorers Tries Guz 2, Child 2, Sanderson, Bates, Smith, Shea, Kelsey, Woodhouse.
Conversions Donaldson 2. Manager Morrison, Captain Kelsey , MOM Woodhouse, Ref. Nick Moore