Redcar Battered & Bruised, But Undaunted

A depleted Redcar squad were even more so due to injuries and a Wedding, though why any self respecting rugby player would want to get married in the rugby season beats me !
(Note to any prospective bridegrooms, the wedding season is from May 1st till September 1st).

But I digress, back to the rugby, Redcar kicked off but were soon on the defensive as North Shields quickly got into their stride and their big and powerful forwards pounded Redcar, they scored after only 5 mins and at regular intervals until half time when the score was 0 – 34.

They re-started the second half in similar fashion and on 44 mins scored another converted try, 0 – 41. Redcar by now had several walking wounded and were falling like nine pins. On 50 mins Redcar were awarded a rare penalty and scrum half Sean Condell caught all the Shields team napping, he took a quick tap and ran through them all to score, without a glove being laid on him, it was converted by full back Jamie Butler, 7 – 41. Shields then ran in 5 more tries, Redcar roused themselves and in the last 10 mins played some good rugby as they put several moves together and got the final score when Redcar’s veteran half centurion (52 years) returned to the fray from the blood bin, Paul, half action man half kamikaze pilot, took a quick tap penalty and headed for the try line, he audaciously dummied the defence and drove over to score, Jamie Butler was unlucky with the conversion and hit the post, 12 – 70.

Final score Redcar 12 North Shields 70

Redcar’s very inexperienced squad (bolstered by Paul Evans and Liam Turner 100+ years between them), never gave up trying and just need time and coaching to add to their undoubted keenness. Well done to all, nice to see James Cochrane and Adam Gardner back, both had good games and were contenders but Paul Evans was voted Redcar’s Man of the Match by Shields.