SHEFFIELD TIGERS 19
TYNEDALE 28
TYNEDALE kicked off their 150th anniversary season in impressive style on Saturday, claiming maximum points from their trip to South Yorkshire.
They ran in four tries to claim five points and put themselves among the early pacesetters in National League Division Two North.
And they did it despite losing influential skipper Oscar Caudle from the front row, along with regular scrum-half James Telfer before kick-off, but as ever, Sam Tunhill and Dan Baines proved more than able deputies,
There were other familiar faces missing, including last term’s player of the season Joe Beaty, his co-centre Will Miller and free-scoring full-back Cam Grant, but the club’s strength in depth was demonstrated by the way others were found to fly the flag.
There was a warm welcome back to Tynedale for flanker Archie Fletcher, who celebrated his return from three years at university in Scotland with a try, and it was also good to see Owen Vassallo packing down alongside him in the back row
There was an impressive debut at full-back from James Lythgoe, who seldom put a foot wrong, and also creating a good impression was try scorer Will Graham, the latest in a long line of top-class hookers in blue and white hoops.
Tynedale blooded replacement scrum-half Howie Roxburgh after half an hour, and he did well.
Last season’s top try scorer, right wing Seamus Hutton started the new season with yet another score, and opposite wing Will Roberts also touched down.
It was also a good day for fly-half Josh Leslie, who converted all four Tynedale tries and set up the opening score with a clever kick.
The Tigers proved doughty opponents, and led at half time, but the weight of history was against them, for Tynedale had won 16 of the previous 17 league matches – including the last three away games.
The Tigers had enjoyed a good pre-season, including victory in the local derby against Sheffield RUFC who were promoted to Division One back in May.
And it seemed that their confidence was justified when they took the lead after just three minutes, when centre Ben Manderfield found a gap to touch down for full back Jamie Rudd to add the extras.
To their credit, Tynedale bounced straight back, with Leslie producing a deadly grubber kick which was pounced on by Hutton, who went over in the corner.
The kick was a tricky one from wide out, but Leslie made light of it to bring the scores level.
The remainder of the half was fairly even, but the only points came from the Tigers, with flanker Louis Redfern Brown going over on 34 minutes for a try converted by Rudd.
Tigers still had their noses in front at 14-7 at the break, but the advantage was short-lived as a period of forward pressure saw Graham force his way over for Leslie to add the extras for 14-14.
And virtually straight from the restart interception specialist Will Roberts plucked a pass out of the air, and raced away to put Tynedale in front for the first time, Leslie converting.
Then came a try from the latest recruit from one of Tynedale’s favourite families, as Archie Fletcher, son of England international John, bother of Ollie and nephew of Mark, grabbed the bonus point try on 56 minutes, Leslie’s conversion opening up a 28-14 lead.
The fly-half spoiled his perfect record from the tee with a missed penalty on 71 minutes, and Tynedale still had work to do.
The Tigers refused to lie down, and were rewarded for their persistence with a very good try through right wing Tom O’Brien on 74 minutes, but Tynedale hung on for the win.
Tynedale open their home programme on Saturday when Darlington Mowden Park are the visitors for what should be an intriguing encounter.
The Durham side opened their campaign with a 47-26 defeat at the hands of relegated Sedgley Tigers, but will give Tynedale a stern test.
Spectators at Tynedale Park will find a major change to the match day experience this season, as for the first time in 75 years, there will not be a printed match programme for them to peruse.
The club management committee has taken the decision to produce only an electronic programme this season following a successful trial last year when a digital programme was produced alongside the physical one.
While accepting that the decision will disappoint some traditionalists, the club points out that the e-programme will contain all the information which would have gone in a printed programme – but could accommodate late team changes, and be significantly cheaper to produce.
The game kicks off at 3pm.
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