GUISBOROUGH ran in 12 tries against Ashington on Saturday, thus edging closer to being crowned Durham and Northumberland division two champions.

The visitors were under immediate pressure from the kick off as they knocked the ball on, giving the home team an attacking scrum. Phil Shields made ground along the right flank, before Matthew Flint stormed up the centre of the pitch offloading to Matt Rawlinson who powered his way over to score the game’s first try.

Rawlinson was at it again a short time later. After winning a line-out inside the away team 22, a catch and drive took play towards the try line. Ryan Mitchell popped a short pass to the centre, who crashed over to score his second try of the game. Jack Robinson showed off his skills as he cut through the Ashington defence inside his own half. Alex Ruff took over and was tackled close to the visitors’ try line. Recycled ball reached Shields, who crossed to score.

A period of pressure by Ashington saw Guisborough having to defend inside their own half, before a kick cleared their lines. However, the ball was punted back and collected by Rob Leggott. Deciding not to attempt to run from his own 22, he passed to Ewan Cameron. The winger arced around defenders in front of him, before cutting inside and accelerating to score under the posts.

An attack from the halfway line by Liam Corcoran and Leggott gave Robinson the chance to chip the ball forward. Although collected by an Ashington player, the ball was ripped from him. Moving to the right, Gareth Lodge spun a flat pass to Ben Wood, whose excellent running line saw him tear through defenders to cross the whitewash. In complete control, Guisborough moved forward once again. Oli Taggart broke from the back of a line out, taking play deep inside the visitors’ half. Rawlinson then broke through the centre before being tackled. Mitchell was on hand to take play to the right, where Wood dived over in the corner. Just before half time, Connor McFarland was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Making use of the numerical advantage, Ashington stormed forward and after good work by their forwards, their hooker rumbled over to score. Half time, Guisborough 38, Ashington 5.

The visitors started the second half well. From a scrum inside the home 22, the Ashington scrum half broke from its base and sprinted over to score. Any chance of a comeback was swiftly nipped in the bud from the restart as Ashington failed to collect the kick cleanly. The loose ball fell kindly to Cameron, who dashed over in the corner to score. Turnover ball won at a ruck on halfway by Corcoran and Leggott, allowed Rawlinson to break forward. Drawing defenders towards him, a neat pass inside to Robinson allowed the flyhalf to touch down.

It was now one way traffic. Lovely interchanging passes involving forwards and backs took play deep into Ashington territory where Robinson broke left and set Cameron on his way for another try. A rampant home team continued to press forward. Tony Conway broke through the midfield. Shields and Robinson combined, before the supporting Cameron added to the tally.

Ashington’s day did not get any better, when their prop forward was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Reduced to fourteen, the away team went further behind after a long kick was collected by Shields. The fullback jinked past tacklers and then sent Wood on his way along the left wing to touch down in the corner for his third try of the game. Robinson scored under the posts for Guisborough, but there was still time for Robson to be shown a yellow card for an infringement at a ruck, close to his team’s try line. The resulting penalty was quickly taken and the away team centre crashed through to score. Final score: Guisborough 74, Ashington 17.

Robinson and Robson shared kicking duties as seven of the 12 conversions were successfully kicked. Guisborough now need just one win in the four remaining fixtures to take the crown.