Billingham Thirds 22 V Acklam Hustlers 22

Billingham Thirds V Acklam Hustlers
Billingham took to the field having removed their wigs with a strong breeze in their faces having to loan Acklam a front row player in order to play the game as it should be played. Our front row of Dale Thompson, Mick Sudron and Phil Kelsey dominated the tight with Gray and Andy Thompson massive in the lineout. After only seven minutes Watson broke clear with Elgie on hand to take over and finish the move with a score. We were looking in command with Donaldson running the midfield and Child sniping round the fringes and Sixsmith and Taylor holding the centres at bay. Simmpson was unlucky to be stopped with a break through from deep in his own half and Dixon on the other wing gave a contrast of speed and power The visors stunned Billingham breaking tackles to take the lead with a converted try on 15 minutes. Watson hit back with a try of his own on the half hour with a long run in from his own half. Acklam hit back again straight from the kick off but could not convert. The Billingham shutters went up with Surtees and Cahoon hammering the Acklam backs in the open. The half finished with Acklam scoring another although some said the kick was good and some thought not.
Half Time Billingham Thirds 10 V Acklam Hustlers 19 (or 17)
Billingham rang the changes at half time having the ability to swap almost an entire team if they wished. Anth Kelsey came on to shore up the defence and Hopeley and Leng added an extra burst of pace out wide with jinking runs. Jay made his debut at nine and Scott Hutchinson went into the front row. The clock ticked on as Billingham brought on Scott Thompson at eight and McConnell out wide and ten minutes into the half Naz pulled back five points with a looping run around their defence. Billingham took the lead with ten minutes to go through a well worked Conner Shay score with Elgie slotting the kick. The Hustlers could have gone further ahead but an immense hit from Gibson stopped a certain try. The Acklam linesman put his flag up for a foot in touch well into the 83 minute which would have ended the game, however he took it back down again and the referee allowed play to go on. The result was a penalty with Billingham still bemused about the decision. With the last play of the game the visitors slotted the kick to draw level which although probably a fair reflection of the game the flagging incident spoilt the spirit in which the game had been played however never did the “Play to the whistle” mean more Not an “L” but should have been a “W”
Half Time Billingham Thirds 22 V Acklam Hustlers 22