Tynedale Raiders 7-6 Morpeth
Morpeth crashed out of the Northumberland Senior Cup losing a closely fought game against Tyneside Raiders, the second team of the county’s current premier club who are riding high in National League 2 North, after an excellent start to the season.
The scoreline reflected the game, a hard-fought contest between two equally matched sides. Could Morpeth have won? - definitely. Did they deserve to win? - possibly, but overall, the home side possibly just shaded the contest and certainly were more clinical when it mattered. That wasn’t to say Morpeth didn’t show, indeed, for large parts of the second half they dominated in terms of possession, but apart from a couple of notable individual efforts, the visitors rarely threatened a well organised Tynedale defence.
Most of the initial play was between the two 22 metre areas, reflecting the parity between the two sides. However, on 8 minutes it was Morpeth who came close to scoring. Initially a cleverly worked line out with Carl Hill and Elliott Clark to the fore, took them close to the Tynedale line. Then flanker Cade Whitfield broke through, and a try seemed inevitable, only for a super tackle saw Whitfield off load to the supporting Sam Hornby who was unable to take the pass as he was about to cross the try line. In the context of such a closely fought affair the opportunity was to prove costly.
It remained an even, if not error strewn contest, as both sides played with total commitment. Then on the 23rd minute Tynedale took the lead with an excellent score from the home full back. On or around the Morpeth 10 metre line, a loop around by the fly half seemed to cause hesitation in the Morpeth midfield allowing for the game’s outstanding player to outpace and then jink his way over by the posts. The subsequent conversion was a formality. 7-0.
Tynedale were now enjoying the lions share of possession and it took an excellent try saving tackle on 31 minutes from promising winger Joe Nelless to prevent the home side increasing their lead.
Finally, before the first half ended Morpeth got into their stride led by number 8 Ryan Shaw, who along with Elliott Clark, worked tirelessly for the cause. Then Jake McKay who had an inconsistent day when kicking from hand, launched a superb high ball that was plucked out of the air by the industrious Nelless which subsequently provided an attacking platform just as the match official blew for half time. 7-0.
The second half began just how the first half ended with Morpeth in the ascendancy.
On 43 minutes a set move from a Morpeth midfield scrum saw the ball sent wide to Nathan Arkle. The winger had a lot to do but cut inside beating numerous defenders before being brought down close to the Tynedale line. The pressure continued and Jake McKay reduced the deficit with a penalty on 45 minutes. 7-3. The same player was unlucky with another similar effort some 5 minutes later that was adjudged to have missed. The score remained 7-3.
It was still Morpeth dominating possession but unable to breach a determined and organised defence. Ryan Shaw was particularly prominent, showing his ball carrying ability. On 63 minutes the visitors got their just reward with a superb McKay penalty that set up a grandstand finish to the contest. 7-6.
But it was not to be, although they came very close on 68 minutes. Another McKay high ball set up the elusive Jake Stevenson. Yet again there was no final pass or offload to create a match winning score, and the home side cleverly kept the ball during the game’s final moments that ensured a Tynedale victory.
Scoops Man of The Match - Number 8 Ryan Shaw.
Morpeth crashed out of the Northumberland Senior Cup losing a closely fought game against Tyneside Raiders, the second team of the county’s current premier club who are riding high in National League 2 North, after an excellent start to the season.
The scoreline reflected the game, a hard-fought contest between two equally matched sides. Could Morpeth have won? - definitely. Did they deserve to win? - possibly, but overall, the home side possibly just shaded the contest and certainly were more clinical when it mattered. That wasn’t to say Morpeth didn’t show, indeed, for large parts of the second half they dominated in terms of possession, but apart from a couple of notable individual efforts, the visitors rarely threatened a well organised Tynedale defence.
Most of the initial play was between the two 22 metre areas, reflecting the parity between the two sides. However, on 8 minutes it was Morpeth who came close to scoring. Initially a cleverly worked line out with Carl Hill and Elliott Clark to the fore, took them close to the Tynedale line. Then flanker Cade Whitfield broke through, and a try seemed inevitable, only for a super tackle saw Whitfield off load to the supporting Sam Hornby who was unable to take the pass as he was about to cross the try line. In the context of such a closely fought affair the opportunity was to prove costly.
It remained an even, if not error strewn contest, as both sides played with total commitment. Then on the 23rd minute Tynedale took the lead with an excellent score from the home full back. On or around the Morpeth 10 metre line, a loop around by the fly half seemed to cause hesitation in the Morpeth midfield allowing for the game’s outstanding player to outpace and then jink his way over by the posts. The subsequent conversion was a formality. 7-0.
Tynedale were now enjoying the lions share of possession and it took an excellent try saving tackle on 31 minutes from promising winger Joe Nelless to prevent the home side increasing their lead.
Finally, before the first half ended Morpeth got into their stride led by number 8 Ryan Shaw, who along with Elliott Clark, worked tirelessly for the cause. Then Jake McKay who had an inconsistent day when kicking from hand, launched a superb high ball that was plucked out of the air by the industrious Nelless which subsequently provided an attacking platform just as the match official blew for half time. 7-0.
The second half began just how the first half ended with Morpeth in the ascendancy.
On 43 minutes a set move from a Morpeth midfield scrum saw the ball sent wide to Nathan Arkle. The winger had a lot to do but cut inside beating numerous defenders before being brought down close to the Tynedale line. The pressure continued and Jake McKay reduced the deficit with a penalty on 45 minutes. 7-3. The same player was unlucky with another similar effort some 5 minutes later that was adjudged to have missed. The score remained 7-3.
It was still Morpeth dominating possession but unable to breach a determined and organised defence. Ryan Shaw was particularly prominent, showing his ball carrying ability. On 63 minutes the visitors got their just reward with a superb McKay penalty that set up a grandstand finish to the contest. 7-6.
But it was not to be, although they came very close on 68 minutes. Another McKay high ball set up the elusive Jake Stevenson. Yet again there was no final pass or offload to create a match winning score, and the home side cleverly kept the ball during the game’s final moments that ensured a Tynedale victory.
Scoops Man of The Match - Number 8 Ryan Shaw.
