» March 25th 2001
» Town 34 : 8 Gateshead Thunder

Town got the victory on Tyneside but only after they were given a run for their money in the first half. The two points took Town into the top six and left Thunder still searching for their first win.

The club's points differential has been given a significant boost over the last two weeks with 94 points clocked up against two of the league's strugglers.

At half time in the International Stadium, Thunder only trailed 16-8, thanks to two excellent tries, and there was clearly work to be done by Town.

It took only five minutes for Town to go ahead. Some powerful work by forwards Hitro Okesene, Lokeni Savelio and Jamie Beaumont had set-up the attacking position and Owen Williamson saw his chance to dart over from dummy half. Tane Manihera added the conversion to put Town into a 6 - 0 lead.

On 14 minutes Gateshead opened their account with a very well worked try. Experienced hooker Roy Southernwood saw that Town were a man short on the wing and kicked a little chip into space down Town's right. The kick through was collected by skipper Leon Williamson who passed to Steve Hall who was in support. Southernwood came flying through to take the final pass and make the line. Hall hit the outside of the post with his conversion attempt. This reduced Town's lead to 6 - 4

Town's response was almost immediate. On 19 minutes Tane Manihera launched a huge bomb, which caused confusion in the Gateshead ranks. Two defenders got in each other's way and Okesene picked-up and powered over the Thunder line despite the attentions of three tacklers to score. Tane Manihera added the conversion to extend Town's lead to 12 - 4.

Lynton Stott almost produced a try for Graeme Lewthwaite on 24 minutes. Stott made the break, he split the defence, sped down the line and passed inside to the supporting Graeme Lewthwaite. Amazingly the referee ruled that this had been a forward pass, and robbed the winger of a certain try.

Graeme Lewthwaite did get his reward on 25 minutes. Town were on the attack and Tane Manihera kicked a delicate kick over the top of the defensive line. The first to react was Lokeni Savelio who collected the bouncing ball and passed to Lynton Stott who release Graeme Lewthwaite who rounded the defence with a curving run to the corner. Tane Manihera hit the post with the conversion attempt which came back off the upright. Town' lead had been extended to 16 - 4.

A spirited Thunder refused to lie down and reduced the deficit to eight points after 30 minutes. Carl Briggs broke the line to find fullback Mike Johnson whose inside pass sent Williamson scurrying over on the left where again Town seemed to have a man missing in the defensive line. Steve Hall missed with the conversion attempt to make the halftime score 16 - 8 in Town's favour.

Three minutes into the second half Town scored their fourth try. William Blackburn, who had put in a number of powerful bursts after coming on as substitute, made a run for the corner from 35 metres. It looked as though he'd made it until fullback Mike Johnson put in a try saving tackle. The ball was switched across to the posts, and then back again as Tane Manihera threw out a remarkable one handed pass. Jamie Beaumont did well to off-load under pressure and Craig Rumney managed to throw himself over the line despite the attentions of three Gateshead tacklers to score. Tane Manihera was successful with the conversion to extend the Town lead to 22 - 8.

Thunder substitute Andy Field should have replied immediately, only to be felled by a last ditch tackle when an inside pass would have given Carl Briggs a try.

Thunder never recovered and as the errors increased. Their completion rate was only 40% in the second half and they paid the price for a series of handling errors and mistakes.

The Town lead was to be extended further after 53 minutes. Anthony Samuel, who had one of his best matches for a while put in a determined break, got support from skipper Matt Sturm and then the ever-available Lewty suddenly appeared at his elbow and took the pass and speed on to score under the posts. Tane Manihera easily adding the conversion to make the Town lead 28 - 8.

The last try of the game came on 64 minutes. Neil Frazer made a good break out on the right. Frazer managed to pass the ball out of the tackle to Fata Sini who had come inside on an angled run. Fata Sini was able to take the pass and power away for his try wide out despite the attentions of two tacklers. Tane Manihera added the conversion to make the final score 34 - 8 to Town.

Tries: Williamson, Okesene, Lewthwaite 2, Rumney, Fata Sini
Goals: Tane Manihera 5
Town: Lynton Stott, Fata Sini, Neil Frazer, Leigh Smith, Graeme Lewthwaite, Tane Manihera, Craig Rumney, Hitro Okesene, Owen Williamson, Lokeni Savelio, Jamie Beaumont, Matt Sturm, Anthony Samuel.
Subs: William Blackburn, John Allen, Carl Sice, and Jonathan Heaney
Referee: Mr Paul Lee