results for 31 5 08

All Tigers' squads had league games this weekend with mixed results.
under 11's
Once again the cubs dominated the game against Wallsend. Mixing in the action were our under9 players who ran rings around the Wallsend team. The way in which the cubs play and respond to pressure is really encouraging for the future.

under 13's
This game was really close this time with Wallsend taking the win at 18 - 24. The Tigers began to play some flowing rugby and fought hard against a physically much larger squad. Lack of time training together showed at times but the Tigers hung on and fought back time after time. Wallsend were not allowed to dominate the game as the Tigers backed up hard effective tackling with some well worked moves, great offloads and punishing runs. It is becoming more and more obvious that the 13's are not far from that elusive dominant game and win.

under 15's
The 15's once again played host to Durham Demons who showed real improvement from the last encounter. Some new players have added new dimensions to the Demons running and defensive game and on a number of occasions they bothered the Tigers. However at half time the Tigers led 30 points to 12 and returned from the break to win comfortably 50 - 12 with the Demons unable to restrain the Tigers as they ran all over the Lair putting together some superb plays and showing that their confidence and belief in themselves is returning.

Seniors
The senior squad travelled to Sunderland for their Co-Operative Northern Premiership game. Looking to build on last weeks 66 - 0 win over Whitley Bay Barbarians, the Tigers had a number of players missing but were joined for the first time this season by veteran campaigner Phil Tomlinson and new recruit James Dawkins, a tall Australian in his first Rugby League outing. Unfortunately Sunderland also had a highly modified squad from the previous few weeks and fielded a large number of Union players from some of the larger clubs in the area. They had an excellent game plan and continually ran their larger, but quick forwards, straight at the backs and this relentless punishment began to show. Rob Aspden re-injured his left knee again and so Glen Ramshaw moved up from the second row to have a great game tackling and running hard with the ball. New boy James, normally a centre or winger in Union, was drafted into the second row and what a sensation! He quickly picked up the game and with dazzling speed and a great step ran in two tries. He later had to be taken off the field with a blood injury to the left eyebrow but after a rinse and vas job was back in action. Phil T showed that he had lost nothing in his time away from the game and ran and tackled relentlessly. The rest of the squad performed brilliantly. Sunderland managed to score from silly mistakes or were gifted the ball from putting pressure on the tiring backs who were half their size. At the end of the game the final score, in Sunderlands favour, was 46 - 24.