Guisborough RUFC 80 Sedgefield RUFC 3

HAVING suffered their first league defeat of the season, Guisborough bounced back to winning ways and are now ten points clear at the top of the league with a convincing win over Sedgefield. Playing under the floodlights at Belmangate, the evening fixture brought the best out of the hosts.

Guisborough were soon in attacking mode. A long kick by the visitors was gathered by Phil Shields. The full-back took play up to the half-way line before Matt Rawlinson and Connor McFarland accelerated forward towards the right flank. Shields stepped on the gas and outpaced covering defenders to score.

Sedgefield enjoyed their best spell of the game, denying the home team any scoring opportunities for a period of play. However, as the game reached its second quarter, Guisborough took complete control. A long pass by Alex Ruff found Nick Taggart in space. Rawlinson then charged forward into the opposition 22. Although grounded, recycled ball came back to Nick Taggart and the hooker burst through a gap to score.

From the restart, Ben Buckworth caught the ball and a brilliant direct run took the back row forward to the Sedgefield 22. Drawing the last defender towards him, an intelligent pass released Lewis Robson to run in and touch down. Rawlinson had been a thorn in the side of the away team with his powerful runs, and he was rewarded in Guisborough’s next attack. From a line-out, the ball was shipped left along the backs to the centre, who muscled his way through tackles and beyond the whitewash.

Ewan Cameron hadn’t seen much of the ball, but from a scrum in the Guisborough 22, the winger found space on the left flank. Accelerating towards the half-way line, he rounded would-be tacklers to run under the posts and score. With the last phase of play in the first half, the hosts were awarded a penalty on the Sedgefield 22 metre line. Quick thinking by Tony Conway caught the away team flat-footed and the supporting Rawlinson broke away to add to his team’s and his own tally. The score brought the half to an end with the scoreboard reading Guisborough 38, Sedgefield 0.

As the second half kicked off, Guisborough continued to attack and remained in complete control of the game. Captain, Matthew Flint, tore forward along with Buckworth towards the posts. The ball reached Jack Robinson, who danced through tackles to score. It was time for Cameron to stretch his legs; he took possession on the Sedgefield ten-metre line and stormed over under the posts. He was soon at it again, when a flat pass by Robinson gave Rawlinson space to move forward. Cameron gained possession, which allowed him to score his third try of the game.

As much as Sedgefield tried, they could not stop the onslaught of the home team’s powerful attacking play. Liam Corcoran peeled away from a scrum and took play under the posts. A penalty was awarded, Conway quickly tapped and glided through a gap to touch down. Corcoran then initiated another score, running strongly before passing to Robinson. The stand-off then set Rawlinson on his way to claim his third try of the game. From a line-out, Oli Taggart gathered the ball. Play switched towards the right of the pitch. Ruff took players out in midfield before offloading to Ben Wood, who accelerated on to the pass and scored.

With the game coming to its conclusion, Sedgefield broke forward and into the Guisborough 22. An infringement was spotted in front of the posts. Not to waste the opportunity, the visitors elected to successfully kick at goal. The penalty was the last action of the game. Final score Guisborough 80, Sedgefield 3. Twelve tries were scored by the hosts, Robson successfully converting ten.

On Saturday, Guisborough host Winlaton Vulcans at Belmangate.