BILLINGHAM RUFC 3TM V STOCKTON 2nds

Billingham 3TM V Stockton 2nds
With the wind blowing down the field 3TM looked to have a strong squad with AJ Amos and Danny “Tojo” Robinson retuning to the club front row and Browndog dropping in to ten, McCabe and Donaldson to the bench. Then the first bombshell, the Lions had pinched the ref as theirs had not turned up. With just short of a minute gone a mix up under a high kick from the visitors saw the loose ball scooped up and their speedy backs went over from distance. With only ten miutes gone they added another ten points with a penalty and Converted try despite a last ditch tackle from Canham. The Billingham pack did however dominate in the tight with Blekinsop joining AJ and Tojo who both looked very strong despite long layoffs. We were unlucky not to score when Gosney charged down a clearance and Simpson raced through to see the ball just beat him into touch. Then came the first talking point from a Billingham perspective when Watson broke clear and hammered past their winger. In the clear with only twenty to go at full tilt he was pulled back by the collar (The scratch marks in his neck testimony to an illegal tackle from behind) and many thought this should have been a penalty try but nothing given. The visitors added another three unanswered tries in a ten minute spell and brought about the end of the half with a big lead
Half Time Billingham 3TM V Stockton 2nds 36
With Morrison having to leave the bench to ref and Mick Leng giving up the whistle job to come on Billingham rang the changes at the turn round. McCabe replaced Guz, leng entered the fray as AJ went off. It was good to see Donaldson return following his operation but it was decided to play him out wide to spare some contact with Robinson who looked for work all of the half replacing Sando and Devine went to centre. Stockton scored again as they proved their Mowden Park victory was no fluke with free running backs not helped by 3TM gifting them possession several times. Both Guz and AJ had to return due to injuries and Woodhouse switched to his customary nine position when Childs finally had to give in to his long term knee injury. Although troubled a little in the line out as Irvine was our only jumper the thirds were dominant in the scrums and this was proved in a major fashion. A long missed pass out saw Sixsmith break a tackle and pass out to Kelsey who made gains deep into the visitors half. Phase after phase saw the forwards and backs interplay move to their five metre line in our best passage of play. Kelsey with Surtees on his shoulder drove at the line but was adjudged held up , five metre scrum awarded. Our domination showed as they buckled under the pressure to give a penalty. Woodhouse took the ball as Stockton stood their ground well short of the try line and as they were reorganising he tapped and drove at their defence stretching to score our only try, Brown slotted the conversion as if he had never been away. This fired up Stockton as the game became scrappy and Billingham looked more like the old 3TM pressing them back. Thompson carried the ball and drove in to their back row flattening him and we drove them back. A bit of handbags occurred and a Stockton player was sin binned although from the line it was thought a straight red should be shown for a head butt. Billingham could not cash in on the advantage and as they tired Stockton ran in further tries to bring about the win. A hard day at the office but the lads stuck at the task well against a side who should like Mowden play in a league more suited to their ability.
Billingham 3TM 7 V Stockton 2nds 53
Scorers Tries Woodhouse 1 Conversion Brown 1
M.O.M. Brown