Sheffield Tigers 26 Tynedale 7

A WET and muddy Sheffield was not the ideal place for Tynedale to return to action after a five week lay-off due to the weather and the festive break.

There seemed to be evidence of rust in the Steel City as Tyne crashed to their fifth away defeat out of seven starts this season.

Tynedale travelled to Dore Moor in good spirits, for every one of the previous 10 games between the sides had ended in a Tynedale victory.

But number 11 was a different story, as the Tigers dominated throughout, and it seemed Tynedale were going  to draw a rare blank until number eight Ben Bell forced his way over for a face-saving consolation try in the dying seconds.

The day was marred by an early clash of heads between Tynedale winger Adam Todhunter and Tigers lock Ben Sword, when they were competing for a high ball. Both had to go off with concussion.

There were a couple of bright spots in an otherwise miserable day with the return to action via the bench after lengthy injury lay-offs of flanker Jonny Cousin and front rower David Batey, and of Toby Ferguson on the wing while on holiday from Exeter University.

Jake Rodgers also returned at fly half, but his comeback was cut short by 10 minutes when he was sin-binned on the hour.

The first half was a dour affair, as both sides struggled with the conditions. Tigers had most of the possession, but solid Tynedale defence meant they could not do a great deal with it

However the Tigers broke the deadlock on 31 minutes when centre James Broadley rounded off a good handling move by breaking through two tackles to touch down for an unconverted try.

Although the lead was only 5-0 at the break, the Sheffield side always looked capable of breaking away and they did just that on 51 minutes when scrum half Ryan Holmes pounced from a line out. Fly half Mark Ireland converted and the Tigers were 12-0 up.

Things got worse for Tynedale when the Tigers ran in two more tries in the space of four minutes, when Tynedalee were down to 14 men as Rodgers sat on the naughty step.

Centre Barney Goatley got the first on 61 minutes before Ireland rounded off a slick handling move for the bonus point try. The fly half converted both tries for a 26-0 lead with just 15 minutes left.

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Tynedale kept plugging away manfully, and with Tigers replacement Simon Meek in the sin bin, Bell went over deep into added on time, Riodgers converting.

There was still time for Ferguson to make a blistering run down the wing, but he was tackled just short to round off a tough day for Tynedale.

Things are not likely to get any easier this Saturday, when Tynedale entertain Rotherham Titans, currently lying fifth in National League Division Two North, two places and 12 points better off than Tynedale.

The game kicks off at 2pm.

Tynedale are away at Otley the following week, but then start a run of three successive home games, against Wharfedale on January 28 before the rearranged games against Hull Ionians on February 4 and Blaydon on February 11.