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On This Day.....11th March

Wednesday 10th March 2010

SATURDAY 11TH MARCH

LONDON SKOLARS 20 - 10 GATESHEAD THUNDER

POWERGEN CHALLENGE CUP 3RD ROUND

An under-achieving Thunder opened the 2006 season with four straight defeats - and the fifth nearly cost Head Coach Dean Thomas his job.

Skolars, beaten 78-14 by Celtic Crusaders the week before, opened up a 14-point lead against a lethargic Gateshead outfit inside the opening half-hour at the New River Stadium. Shaun Ata converted Gareth Honour's grubber kick for the opening try and then second rower Matt Pitman powered over from close range.

Thunder conceded a third try when winger Austin Aggrey touched down in the corner before they finally hit back before the break.

2005 Player of the Year Rob Line crossed between the posts and with Kevin Neighbour adding the extras the Tynesiders were back in it at 14-6. Wade Liddell's decision to go for glory instead of putting Neighbour over with an inside pass, however, proved costly despite a second-half rally.

Thunder camped in the London half for the third quarter, but while Line and Australian playmaker Jason Connors went close, they couldn't turn possession into points. And it proved costly when the Skolars broke out of defence to stretch their lead.

Josh Garden ended a flowing move with the home side's fourth try, with Ben Joyce's extras making it 20-6.

There was no way back for a disappointing Gateshead though Liddell touched down three minutes from time. Last year's top try scorer capitalised on clever play from pack man Steven Bradley - but it was too little too late for Thunder who missed out on a potentially lucrative fourth round tie.

Chairman Bill Midgley admitted the latest setback had caused an early-season crisis.

He said: "We'll meet Dean Thomas to discuss the future, but the defeat in London is very disappointing and represents a missed opportunity.

"We want to build on last year's play-off position, but instead we've gone backwards and we've got to improve fitness and commitment."

However, Thunder did ralley and had their mlost successful season to date - eventually losing to Featherstone Rovers 46 - 18 in their first play off outing.

GATESHEAD THUNDER: Liddell 7, Birch 6, Barnes 6, Neighbour 7, Peers 6, Kelly 7, Connors 7, LINE 9, Thorman 6, Cakacaka 7, Bradley 7, Gocher 7, Burley 6. Subs; (all used) Black 8, Rutherford 6, St. Bernard 6, Rowe 7.

WITH THANKS TO THE JOURNAL