Once again, the sides proved to be very evenly matched and largely cancelled each other out for long periods, playing nearly the entire opening quarter between the 22’s. The DMP pack showed their strength at the breakdown, and at the scrum the welcome return of Hayward added power and control. The backs were finding it difficult to find any fluidity though, until eventually Brown entered the line at pace to take the ball up field. Delaidriti received the ball from the ensuing ruck and went blind but scrambled defence held him up on the try line. The ball was quickly shifted along the line for the first time and Nelson powered over just under the posts. Brown added the conversion ( 7-0).

The game then resumed as previous, with both sides struggling to make an impression, though DMP will regret not taking some of the chances that were carved out by the pack, with Myers, Law, and Nelson securing and turning over plenty of ball for the team. Half time sounded and DMP went into the break ahead.

However, straight from the restart, the team were caught napping, as they coughed up the ball in the first contact, and then allowed the Gateshead flanker to go straight through the middle and dot down under the posts. (7-7).

On 45 mins, at a Gateshead scrum, Patterson hustled his opposite number into a knock on. Mowden then comfortably won their own scrum, and Patterson sniped and drew 3 defenders before sending an excellent pass to Drought who took the ball at pace and powered through 4 defenders to smash down (12-7).

Mowden had further chances to extend their lead before Gateshead moved the ball quickly to their pacy winger who went over in the corner (12-12).

Into the last few minutes, DMP managed to lose the ball in the opposition half. The Gateshead forwards drove down to the DMP 22, playing through a series of advantages on the way. Only unbelievable defending by the DMP lads kept the opposition out but with the game ticking into the red, the Gateshead number 8 powered over to secure the match with a converted try.

The defeat was tough to take but the lads battled well through out and will reflect that we left quite a few points on the pitch that on another day we would have scored. Working on our attack will be the focus of the coaches in the coming weeks.

MOTM – Matty Brown. A great performance at full back, he read the game well throughout, joining the line at speed and at depth whilst also putting in his usual excellent tackling display. Well done Matty

Match Report from Tristan Drought