Seniors struggle, U15's win in Wakefield

The Tigers poor season continued at the weekend with a visit to Jarrow Vikings ending in a 94 - 0 defeat. Following the previous weekends home loss to Newcastle Knights, 0 - 64, the Tigers' season took a serious turn for the worse when only eight players arrived at Jarrow on Saturday afternoon. This was soon reduced to six as two players were convinced the game would not go ahead and left. The arrival of Danny Ross increased the squad to seven and added some desperately needed experience. Newcomer Harry Sutton ( Prince Harry) was keen to start and was slotted into the loose forward position at which he had an immediate impact which earned him the award of Durham's man of the match. Harry quickly picked up the rules and made a series of powerful runs dancing around Jarrows' big forwards. He wasn't shy in tackling either and made some hits and try stopping chases. The Tigers actually fielded eight of their own players as a rapidly signed Mark McConnell from Darlington said he would play. He actually contacted me as I drove to Jarrow expressed and interest in playing League, said he was coming along to watch and would have his boots with him!!! He quickly picked up the game and slotted into the forwards and used his size, strength and speed to great effect. To be honest the game would not have gone ahead had it not been for a number of Jarrow players who had just finished a game offering to play for the Tigers. We are extremely indebted to them. Eventually the strain of two hard fast paced games began to tell but they continued to give their all in all areas of the game. Steve Middlemas, Karl Stephenson and Nick Butler distributed the ball to great effect and help bring the Tigers close several times only to be taken down just short of the try line.
The next couple of weeks are important for the Tigers. The chances of being in the top half of the league are gone and if playing numbers don't increase to respectable numbers the season will be over. Durham Tigers will not be put into the same situation again, it was embarrassing to say the least.

Under 15's
On Sunday 15 June the 15's travelled to Crofton Cougars on the outskirts of Wakefield for a friendly.
Following an easy journey down the road the Tigers were shown into the recently built and refurbished community centre / clubhouse by an extremely friendly bunch.
The Tigers walked proudly from the changing room in the old black and orange strip which had only just come back from having their new sponsors logo's printed on it.
It was an impressive sight and was appreciated by the large crowd of Crofton supporters.

At the kick off the Tigers were a little unsettled and nervous and made some mistakes and missed tackles that allowed Crofton to take the lead just under three minutes. That was enough to wake the Tigers up and after quickly relieving Crofton of the ball after the restart anf some good drives in passing play Ed Henty drove forward to level the scores just after six minutes. The Tigers then began to dominate the big Crofton forwards stopping their drives short on most occasions only to be penalised for silly things to lose well defended yards and allow Crofton to move closer to the Tigers try line. They were stopped every time though and at seventeen minutes Dan Tinkler danced passed several players to score try number two. Crofton scored on nineteen and a half minutes, to level the score, after the referee deemed the ball to be knocked on by a Tigers player in their own twenty. However following a great chase from the restart Jake Middlemas powered over the line for try number three. Hard long drives from Gareth Morley Scott Shield and Mark Sowerby saw the Tigers within inches of the Crofton line only for them to be stopped or penalised for knocking on when the ball was illegally ripped. Liam Cooper scooted from about twenty-five only to be stopped inside the ten by a total of five Crofton players. His ability and confidence increasing all the time Liam is becoming a serious contender for a place in the starting line up.Another player who had an outstanding game was Jonny Collinson with strong drives and tackling, another player whose work rate and ability has improved dramatically. It was pleasing to see them both have great games.
The half ended with the Tigers leading 18 - 12

Within two minutes of the start of the second half Scott Shield powered over the line to increase the lead to 24 - 18 to be followed not five minutes later by Micheal Brown, who again played a blinder of a game at full back. His ability and speed was commented on by the Crofton coach after only ten minutes as he had already collected and ran the ball out of the Tigers danger zone on a number of occasions.
For the next fifteen minutes the game went from end to end. The Tigers seemed to be penalised on a regular basis but always held Crofton at bay and return the ball deep into opposition territory only to have to come back and start again. the Tigers had reached the usual point in the game where concentration slips slightly. Possibly because a lot of substitutions were made to give all of the squad a run out the Tigers were again unsettled but they quickly settled and again held their own against the much heavier Crofton side. After a break for a Crofton player to receive treatment the squad was swapped back and began to reassert itself on the game. Following great drives from the forwards, whose fitness was begining to get the better of their tiring opponents and some great offloading and passing across the centres and wings Ed Henty strolled across the line in the corner for his second and the Tigers sixth and last try. Following a number of illogical penalties Crofton were offered an easy try to make the final score a respectable 24 - 36 win for the Tigers.
This was a great game with a brilliant atmosphere that was appreciated by all concerned. Spectators came to us at the end and thanked the team for a fantastic game and expressed how impressed they were with the Tigers in their play and behaviour and that it was the most enjoyable game of League that they had seen for a while and that included Super League locals Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
The after game hospitality was enjoyable as was "the crack" as it was so politely put. Crofton's choice of man of the match was Ed Henty, "just by the thickness of a blade of grass" from Micheal Brown.
The journey home was made more agreeable by the win and was a good end to a great trip to the "Heartland"