BRING ON THE FINAL!
SUNDERLAND UNDER-16S WARM UP IN STYLE FOR COUNTY PLATE SHOWDOWN BY SECURING EASTER DOUBLE
Sunderland Under-16s warmed up for this Sunday’s County Plate Final with an undefeated Easter tour of Cumbria.
The youngsters prepared for their showpiece final – against Gateshead at Consett – with wins against Vale of Lune and current Cumbrian county champions Penrith.
In their first match, they faced Vale of Lune in Lancaster.
Tries from Luke Carroll and Dean Edmundson, both converted by Michael Holder, saw the Sunderland side trail 17-14 at half time.
Two tries from James Usher in the second half, though, turned the game around, with the visitors edging home 24-22.
Facing newly-crowned Cumbria County Cup champions Penrith, the home side showed they were an athletic, skilful team as they applied the early pressure.
The first score came when a Sunderland attack broke down and the hosts pinched the ball and ran away to score out wide.
A penalty was given 10 metres out and quick thinking from Ben Hutchinson saw him chip out wide for Usher to touch down on the full on the wing. Holder landed a splendid conversion to secure a 7-5 half-time lead.
The second half remained tight, but, with 10 minutes to go, the Sunderland pack forced their way over to increase their lead, a fired-up Josh Pool coming up with the ball.
Penrith managed to crash over close to the posts and convert to level at 12-12.
But, from a final line-out, Devrim Koca steered the maul over for a try to seal a 17-12 victory.
Sunderland’s first XV round off their Durham and Northumberland Two campaign on Saturday, hoping to continue their winning streak and avenge an early-season defeat to North Shields.
The Ashbrooke side host the Tynesiders at Hill View (3pm kick-off ), secure firmly in seventh place, 10 points ahead of their visitors.
Sunderland have registered a straight hat-trick of league wins and, after a week off, hope to sign off in emphatic style against a side they claimed a losing bonus point to, going down 24-21 in the first game of the season.
Sunderland chairman Paul Geehan said: “We are looking forward to the return leg and are aiming to build on our recent positive, winning performances against a competitive North Shields side.”
Sunderland Flames have been rewarded for a positive inaugural season in the Women’s Championship North Two, by claiming 11 slots in the recently announced Durham County senior squad.
Making the cut into the senior squad are Nicole Irving, Saskia Ryan Munden, Steph Maddison, Kirsty Paterson, Tara Breslin, Clarissa Murphy, Leah Davies, Suzanne Falconer, Amanda Hilton, Jenny Cox, Tara Slater and Catherine McCabe. Kate McDermott has also been selected for the development squad.
And they will benefit from the wisdom of England international and Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ stars Tamara Taylor and Heather Kerr, who have been drafted in to share their international knowledge ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.
Taylor and Kerr have worked alongside the forwards, teaching them new techniques and skills for scrummaging and line-outs at their Hartlepool training base.
Paul Geehan, Durham County’s senior women’s team manager, said: “Having the pleasure of the two players helping out and chatting with our women will certainly put us on the front foot against our opposition.
“They are both great ambassadors for the game and the players had a great night learning new techniques.”
Their first match is against Northumberland at Novocastrians’ ground in Longbenton on Friday, April 28 (7pm).