The Boars faced a strong Gatehead 3rd side that was bolstered by some 2nds and rumour has it 2 firsts, The boars travelled with a big squad which included some first team players trying to get rid of the christmas cobwebs.

1st half

Adam Reay had a good start to the game, solid in defence and moved the ball when going forward.

Gary Spoors manages to break the Gateshead backline like Bilbo Baggins broke through the gates at Mordor (more sneaked but you get my drift) passes over the top of the defenders for Glenn Atkinson who unfortunately knocks on.
Ben Lane who is looking a little worse for wear gestures to the H20 techinician to enter the field as (and i quote) "My mouth is as dry as Ghandi's flip flop" this is a usual occurance for Ben who seems to only turn up half cut/hungover.
Houghton have constant pressure in the Gateshead half with most of the play being knock ons, scrums, lineouts etc. The ball is kicks high in the air only to see it drop on Glen Atkinsons head! Glen who has hit everything so far like a wrecking ball in defence just didnt see it!

Breakdown just in side the Gateshead 22, Gary Shepherd turns the ruck over and sets off with the ball, its painful to watch as the christmas weight gain has done the scrum half no favours and looks like he's pulling a barge, he goes past the fullback somehow and is just about over the line when the big centre does a wrap tackle, Shepherd falling over the line scores (he defo dropped it but the ref thought otherwise!!) conversion missed 5 - 0.

Houghtons tackling has been excellent with Glen doing a lot of work with cover tackling. Paul Ridley then clears the pressure put on the Boars with a great kick (his only one of the day) from the 5 metre line, Young Jordan Mathews then collects the kick back to Houghton and sets off up the pitch, comes inside for some reason and gets clotheslined by their centre - definite yellow but the ref bottled it.
Glen is involved again but miss times his pass and it goes forward, from the resulting scrum Houghton make a good tackle in midfield and ball is span out to the backs, Glen pops up from nowhere and is able to offload quickly to Ben (dry mouth) Lane who scores in the corner - conversion missed 10 - 0.

Gateshead hit back with some direct running and good kicking, the backs, Ridley, Bainbridge, Spoors, Mathews, King and Lane are dealing with the pressure brilliantly, a breakdown happens inside the Boars 22, Glen expertly turns the ball over but the ref see's at as foul play and awards a penalty, Gateshead ship the ball quickly to a big strong runner who goes under posts, conversion attempts missed as the kicker started his run up the ball fell forward, he wanted to retake but Shepherd took the ball off him - 10 - 5.

Ridley and Lee B from kick off without telling anyone decide to run a quick play wrong footing the defence and their own team only to Lee just knock on. Boars get the ball back, Ridley makes a break (this time he didnt kick it!!) and offloads to Glen who knocks on.

Gateshead get a penalty (which wasn't really a penalty) just over half way, their captain takes quickly and nobnody is 10 metres back which allows him to set off up the pitch, he's crossed the 22, moving to the 5 metres line and BOOOOOOOM out of nowhere he is hit with a covering tackle from King and Mathews - much to his annoyance and subsequently the dummy was spat out, some handbags then a line out.

From the 5 metre lineout, Shepherd passes the ball back to Ridley (good pass btw) who sees the ball go straight through his hands and out for a 5 metre scrum to Gateshead which the Boars defended well - DOTD moment.

HT

Second half saw some changes in the Boars line up.

Cummings, Daffyd, Wiley, Main, Scott, Smeech, Graham all coming on to strengthen the team (some would say weaken but thats up for debate)

Scrappy start by the Boars with most passages of play ending with a knock on (Daffyd) or a forward pass (Glen) or a nothing kick (Ridley) - Boars put a move together in the backs with Mathews cutting a great line and offloading to Cummings who............knocks on, Gateshead kick away from the 22.
More scrappy play and neither team can get a grip of the game until, Allan Scott powers his way through the middle of a ruck (with sound effects!!) and turns the ball over which gives the Boars an attacking platform, Gatehead get a hand in the passage of play and knock on. Boars scrum and win a freekick, Smeech takes quickly and offloads to Glen who in turn offloads to Cummings who couldn't gather the ball effectively - Gateshead clear their lines! from the subsequent line out the forwards do a excellent job of stealing the ball and a few drives later Buddha (who has grafted his Oddballs off all game) scores in the corner - conversion missed 15 - 5.

Boars are playing freeflowing rugby now and break again down the blindside only to see the ref bring it back for yet another Glen Atko forward pass - ropey decision, even their bench was bemused by that one!

The backs finally have some ball that Daffyd hasn't knocked on or Ridley kicked away, Daffyd to Lee B to Ridley who is tackled but pops off the floor to Mathews who scores - converted by Smeech 22 - 5.

Gateshead pile the pressure on and are kicking into the corners well - Ryan Graham gathers one and calls mark

Daffyd knocks it on again!!

Ridley with a good kick this time down the blindside and its chased by the flyimng winger Mathews who just knocks on.

Daffyd is involved again and this time sets up the move for the next try (its about time!!) Wiley to Glen to Ryan Graham to score in the corner - conversion missed 27 - 5.

A few more broken phases of play with Daffyd catching one and Glen making another forward pass and Rdiley kicking and the game is over.

FT - 27 - 5.

MOM - Allan (Buddha) Widdowfield DOTD - Paul Ridley