NEWCASTLE THUNDER 50 SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS 16

By Ian Golden at Kingston Park

Defensive lapses cost the Scorpions dear against a strong Newcastle Thunder side who ran in nine tries for a strong win to keep up the hunt for a top eight spot.

Scorpions now have one game left in the regular season, away at Coventry Bears, before the League 1 Shield begins.

The first dropped ball came in the first couple of minutes, giving Thunder the opportunity to take the lead but they knocked on and the chance was wasted.

They took the lead on six minutes. Aaron Teroi held up over the line but from the next play, Tom Reudiger scored near to the corner. Hardcastle sliced the kick wide.

The second came from the final play of a set when Reudiger ran through for his and Thunder’s second. Hardcastle this time made no mistake from the conversion to make it 10-0.

Scorpions struck back on 18 minutes when Richard Jones reached over the line when under pressure. Paul Emanuelli converted.

Thunder extended their lead on the half hour when Jason Payne was given too much space to score on his first game back this season from injury. Hardcastle converted. 16-6 at the break.

They went further ahead with the first attack of the second half, Derrell Olpherts running half the length of the field to score and Hardcastle improving.

Scorpions were leaving too many gaps in defence and Josh Kittrick was the next to take advantage, running over for his side’s fifth try before Reudiger added another.

Jamie Murphy got a try back with Emanuelli’s kick hitting the post but it was just brief respite as Reudiger ran from half-way for his fourth with Hardcastle again kicking the goal.

Scorpions fought back and were rewarded with a try, Alex Davidson forcing his way over and Emanuelli converting.

Newcastle, aiming to improve their points difference going into the end of the season, ran two more tries with Olpherts and Mikey Wood both crossing and Hardcastle converting both to bring up the 50.

 

NEWCASTLE

1              Tom Reudiger

2              Ali Blair

3              Joe Brown

4              Derrell Olpherts

5              Zach Clark

6              Josh Kittrick

7              Ben Hardcastle

8              Corbyn Kilday

9              Aaron Terol

10           Rhys Clarke

11           Mikey Wood

12           Daniel Parker

13           Sam Luckley

SUBSTITUTES

14           Evan Simons

15           Vincent Rennie

16           Jason Payne

17           Ben Thorburn

 

MATCH SUMMARY

TRIES

Tom Reudiger    (6, 13, 58, 65)

Jason Payne       (30)

Derrell Olpherts                (42, 75)

Josh Kittrick        (54)

Mikey Wood      (79)

GOALS  Ben Hardcastle 7/9

 

SCORPIONS

1              Jamie Murphy

2              Ian Newbury

3              Jordan Sheridan

4              Christiaan Roets

5              Scott Gregory

6              Courtney Davies

7              Paul Emanuelli

8              Richard Jones

9              Kristian Baller

10           Izaak Duffy

11           Barrie Phillips

12           Kyle Scrivens

13           Alex Davidson

SUBSTITUTES

14           Billy Gaylor

15           Chris Vitalini

20           Anthony Symons

25           Sion Jones

 

MATCH SUMMARY

TRIES     Richard Jones    (18)

Jamie Murphy   (62)

Alex Davidson   (69)

GOALS  Paul Emanuelli 2/3

 

Attendance: 782

Half-time: 16-6

Referee: Andy Bentham

 

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