3TM CHAMPIONS OF TEES VALLEY SOCIAL LEAGUE

ACKLAM HUSTLERS V BILLINGHAM 3TM

What a change from the last game at Acklam. Cold, wet, hailstones and a full squad without Whiteline scratching around to get a game and a team together and a league title decider. Nerves were jangling and it was important to get out of the blocks quickly players carrying injuries still battled through the pain barrier as this was one game no one wanted to miss out on. The game that won us the league.
The mood of 3TM was stated right from our kick off, the drop out was perfect from Elgie as it hung in the breeze dropping right into their open sides arms. Woody came through as he caught it and hammered him to the ground were he stayed for several minutes. Not one of the players was going to be out done as they crunched the opposition at every opportunity. After five minutes a driving maul saw Acklam back peddling with Watson driving over. On ten minutes a line out dominated once again with Thompson and Gray taking ball all game was won. I’ll take that was the response from Guz and the usual route one was used to double the try tally. The Hustlers pulled one back as 3TM tried to overcomplicate a move with the home side capitalising on the mistake. With a quarter of the game gone Watson took the ball on from a scrum and Guz finished off as Guz does. Straight from the kick off the home side pulled back within three points with another score as Billingham nerves showed through. Whiteline used all off his managerial skills (threats of fines, chilli peppers and raw eggs) to rally the troops, and it worked. It worked as the backs came more into play with the reformed partnership of Woody and Bri (Van Gough) Dunning calling the shots. With back row Anth Kelsey normally the destroyer coming into the line creating space for his team mates to run free. On the half hour the ball zipped along the line and who should sprint over but Guz to complete his hat trick. With the half coming to a close Gray broke clear and made good yards popping to Potts who raced into space and put in a perfect step to go round his opposite number. He cut inside but was cut down just as Donaldson came alongside. Phil had moved to outside centre to use his free flowing running skills and showed all of these to finish the move in style. Disaster struck as 3TM set up a ruck as Hall stole the ball once again from the opposition pack. In came Andy Thompson with his Sunset Red hair gleaming in the sun (What?). He caught Phil over the eye with his boot and a nasty gash occurred ending the front rows game and season with the very dapper Marc Massey replacing him It was a case of da ja vu (it’s happened before) for Whiteline as we got a penalty right on half time. His quick tap and go saw him cross the line but the ref pulled it back, woody remembered he was not eighteen stone and gave the tap to Guz who….yes another bulldozing try.
ACKLAM HUSTLERS 14 V BILLINGHAM 3TM 38

Kelsey made way for Scott Thompson, Sixsmith came on for Dunning and Andy Thompson made way for Morgan as MOTY Whiteline rang the changes and after only two minutes the Meat axe Naz received the ball deep in his own half and hit the gas to open his account. Morgan surprised everyone (well everyone on 3TM side) when breaking takle after tackle and actually running at speed at the heart of the home defence.Watson got his second two minutes later with a deft dip of the shoulder to dummy the full back and flatten him to score. Young was thrown into the battle to keep up the pressure in the forwards as “Oxo” McGravey took over halls job of making the hard yards and standing tall whilst the maul was formed. Praying Mantis Naz used all his power in his massive thighs to sprint clear for his second. With three quarters of the game gone Donaldson got his second with a typical jinking run leaving the home side for dead. More changes saw Elgie make way for Leng, Simpson came on for Shae who had joined the attack in the line at every opportunity and Naz made way for Morrison. Richie must have saved a bunch of tackles as he hit one after another making five tackles in almost as many seconds. Coggy Canham was signalled to join the fray but declined as he was carrying an injury and the water bottles, and that’s what makes 3TM so great people prepared to do anything for the victory of the team. Guz scored his fifth showing that it is not just brute force which scores tries as he spun out of a tackle to go over with young Potts taking over the kicking duties. The game was brought to a close with Watson running in from distance and showing a new skill by converting his own hat trick try.
ACKLAM HUSTLERS 21 V BILLINGHAM 3TM 78
Scorers Tries Guz 5, Watson 3, Donaldson 2, Naz 2
Conversions Elgie 7, Potts 1, Watson 1
Thanks to Whiteline for managing the team and getting games whenever possible, thanks for all the players who contributed over the year to yet another league season without a defeat, thanks to all the boys who stepped up from colts and the “experienced boys” who guided them and thanks to all the players who stood on the line and played with injuries or received injuries for the team.
Thanks to the supporters and the Billingham Rugby Club for all their help.
Thanks to Andy Smith for the photos (Apologies for this weeks Andy)
Oh yes and Thanks for introducing me to Vodka/Red Bull and Jelly shots!
A GREAT VICTORY ENDING A GREAT SEASON AS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
WELL DONE 3TM