TYNEDALE 47
HARROGATE 26
WAY back in 1969, the world was rocking to the monster hit “Sugar, Sugar” by the American bubblegum pop group the Archies.
Fast forward 57 years, and it’s a new pair of Archies who are helping to bring the sweet taste of success to Tynedale.
Take a bow Archie Fletcher and Archie Rattray, two back row forwards of the highest order, who put in plenty of monster hits of their own to finally subdue a very good Harrogate side at Corbridge on Saturday.
Tynedale were under the cosh for the first half hour, as the Yorkshiremen staged wave after wave of attacks from their relentless rolling maul, only to be repulsed again and again by the Archies and back row colleague Tom Campbell.
Indeed, all those in blue and white put in hard shifts to stem the Yorkshire tide, but some of the tackles put in by Fletcher and Rattray must have been felt back in Betty’s Tea Rooms.
And it all came good in a remarkable second half, as Tynedale turned the game on its head with six splendid tries to claim maximum points.
The game was a triumph for Tynedale prop Ben Haigh, who has been out for several months with injury, as he marked his return to the fray with two fine tries.
It was also a day to remember for kicker Cameron Grant, who scored a try and landed six conversions for a personal haul of 17 points.
Tynedale missed 20 stones of sparkling front row talent with the absence of skipper Oscar Caudle, but were bolstered by the return to the second row of the remarkable Graeme Dunn, who has been playing first team rugby at Tynedale for 20 consecutive seasons, and is showing few signs of slowing down.
Tynedale were put off their stroke somewhat when stand-in skipper and scrum-half James Telfer had to go off injured, meaning that influential fly-half Josh Leslie had to take over number nine duties, with Ted Fletcher – brother of the aforementioned Archie - coming off the bench as replacement,
Victory seemed a distant dream for the first half hour, as Harrogate dominated possession and territory, only kept at bay by some ferocious defending from the entire Tynedale side,
The Yorkshiremen took the lead after just five minutes with hooker Steve Maycock being driven over following a lineout. Fly half jack Mallinson added the extras.
Tynedale opened their account four minutes later, when a slick handling move and a looping pass sent winger Seamus Hutton over in the corner for an unconverted try
Remarkably, that was the end of the scoring in the first half, as the huge Harrogate forwards pounded on relentlessly, only to be cut down by unyielding Tynedale defenders.
Tynedale got their noses ahead for the first time two minutes into the second half, when a rare line-out success ended with centre Jimmy Lythgoe slicing through the defence for a fine try, Cam Grant’s conversion making it 12-7.
Another forward drive on 46 minutes gave replacement Haigh his first try, improved by Grant, before Harrogate hit back with a powerful drive of their own which brought Maycock his second try.
More forward power from a tap penalty gave Haigh his second converted try on 55 minutes, before a repeat charge from another quick penalty saw prop Sam Turnill crash over on the hour, Grant’s conversion opening up a 33-12 gap.
Harrogate’s day got worse when replacement Jake Scott accelerated through for try number six, again improved by Grant, for a 40-12 scoreline, with 10 minutes left.
Harrogate showed their teeth with another forwards’ try for prop Jacob Percival, but the excellent Grant stretched over for Tynedale’s seventh try, which he converted himself
Harrogate got the bonus point they deserved for a dominant first-half display when the referee awarded a penalty try which was the final action of the day.
The win consolidated Tynedale’s sixth place in National League Division Two North, taking maximum points from five of their seven games so far.
Their two defeats came at the hands of top two Sedgley Park and Darlington Mowden Park.
Tynedale first XV have no game this weekend, but return to action with a trip to bottom club Wharfedale on October 31, when the end of British Summer Time means there will be a 2pm kick off.
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