Rugby League Coaching Manuals

West Cumbria 46 Gateshead Thunder 4 - Distington - Friday - Wests moved back into second place with an eight try victory over the Tynesiders, with star of the show again being prolific centre Karl Olstrum, who crossed for a hat trick.

The hosts had the advantage of a strong cross field wind in the first half and made the most of it although the half time score did not reflect the effort and commitment of a resilient Gateshead side.

Olstrum opened the scoring from a scrum in the ninth minute, using tremendous footwork to beat his opposite number and racing 40 metres to the line; Nicky Burgess converting. 

After a further spell of Cumbrian pressure, Callum Philips extended the lead when he exchanged passes with Olstrum, taking the money ball on the inside to scamper clear.

On 28 minutes Jonathan Ritson went in at dummy half to help out his forwards after Gateshead had been pressing the home line and his speed and elusiveness enabled him to beat the markers and sprint 80 metres to score, leaving a bevy of chasers in his wake. 

Again, on a difficult night for kickers, Burgess added the extras and Olstrum grabbed his second try out wide soon after, created by Burgess’s fine cut out pass to Ritson.

Burgess added a tremendous touchline conversion and Olstum completed his treble just before the break, with Burgess again the instigator and Mark Watson the link, to send Wests in with a decisive 30 point lead.

Olstrum turned provider two minutes into the second half, sending Nicky Cook in after initial good work from Philips, but the next quarter hour belonged to Thunder who camped in the Cumbrian’s half but could not find a decisive strike.

Their scrambling defence having stood the test, Wests broke down field and Watson scooted over from dummy half, Burgess missing his only kick of the night.

Adam Ramsden pounced on a dropped high ball on the hour and ran 35 metres to complete the scoring for the home side but to Gateshead’s credit, and indicative of their spirit, the visitors engineered the last score of an entertaining game, when full back Josh Stoker linked up well to go in out wide. 

North London Stags 16 Leigh Miners Rangers 54 – Pennine Way, Hemel, Saturday Rangers moved ten points clear at the top with second-rower Martin Gray their standout, causing havoc throughout and claiming four tries in an inspired display.

The visitors posted two touchdowns from their first two attacks and never looked back and despite Stags playing some impressive rugby, Leigh were lethal, completing the vast majority of sets with a try.

With pitch side temperatures barely reaching four degrees and a biting cross wind making it feel much colder, handling was extremely difficult and Norths suffered from a series of dropped balls throughout, gifting possession to a side that did not need a second invitation.

With Sean Pendlebury pulling the strings at scrum-half, Leigh raced into a 38-4 lead at half-time with Gray scoring a hat-trick, centre Matt Rozman, Josh Williams and Pendlebury a four-pointer each and stand-off Aaron Reeve conjuring a fine solo try with a delightful show and go.

Daniel Myers kicked five conversions at the Redbourn End while Stags’ only score came after 16 minutes when Sean Johnson’s high kick was dropped by Williams and firebrand centre Jerry Obuchowski pounced to claim the spoils.

With impressive debutant prop Andy Reeve off injured and Stags down to 12 men, it was a surprise that the home side survived 20 minutes of the second period without conceding more points.

Then Rozman got his second try, squeezing inside the right hand corner flag and the outstanding Gray stepped out of three tackles to go on a 40 metre rampage to the line, Myers making it 48-4.

Stags had struggled to get any field position but did score with seven minutes left when Gray lost the ball to tall stand-off Andre Vine who strode in from the halfway line to cross between the posts, Keiran Dixon converting.

When Gray was sin-binned for questioning referee Butler with two minutes left, Vine again took advantage, swinging round to reach over from close range.

But Leigh had the last laugh, Jason Unsworth’s grubber being touched down by Pendlebury and Myers adding the extras with the final kick.

Gillette Friday Floodlit Footy – 30th January
West Cumbria 46 Gateshead Thunder 4

Saturday 31st January
North London Stags 16 Leigh Miners Rangers 54 (at Hemel)

FIXTURES 
Thursday 5th February
Saddleworth v Leigh Miners Rangers

Sunday 8th February
Celtic Crusaders v North London Stags
Featherstone Lions v Saddleworth Rangers
Gateshead Thunder v Siddal
Ince Rose Bridge v East Leeds
Keighley Cougar Cubs v West Cumbria
West Hull v Leigh East