Tynedale 37 Preston Grasshoppers 7

9:26am Monday 14th April 2008

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A poor first half by Hoppers during which they gifted the opposition 14 points gave them too much to do in a better second period but league champions Tynedale were worthy winners.

The home side made it look easy when they cut through Hoppers defence in the third minute for an unconverted try.

Penalties followed in the fifth and 11th minute to make it 11-0 before Hoppers tightened things up and stemmed the flow.

Then two blunders from fly half Boshoff in a five minute spell turned the game.

First fly half Beasley then flanker Rastall took advantage of careless passes to intercept and run in tries, both converted and Hoppers were in disarray.

To their credit, they tightened up their defence, Adam Crisp making a superb try-saving tackle near the line, but still faced a 25 point deficit at the break.

One suspects that the halftime talk was not for the faint-hearted, and Hoppers came out with more purpose but sustained pressure for the first ten minutes failed to produce any points.

Darren Wilson continued to probe from the base of the scrum and Crisp enjoyed a run but Tynedale broke the stranglehold and the pack drove over for an unconverted try on their first attack of the half.

Replacement Olly Moore was breaking the line at centre and Hoppers returned to the attack but again the home backs took advantage of a turnover on halfway and fast hands put in Miller who converted his own try after 66 minutes.

Replacements from the bench at last instilled some urgency in the pack and Hoppers put on the pressure.

Desperate defence from Tynedale brought a yellow card and, after a series of drives for the line, Moore battered his way over for a consolation try which he converted himself.

Hoppers complete their league programme when they travel to West Park St Helens on Saturday.