Thunder 16, Knights 24

They didn't play particularly well, turning over too much cheap possession and failing to build constant pressure or continuity in attack.

But while they lost itty-bitty games like this to the likes of Featherstone and Hunslet in the Northern Rail Cup, they came out on top at Gateshead Thunder yesterday to win 24-16 and claim two vital LHF National League Two points in their promotion race.

That was perhaps down to the confidence and belief engendered from some wonderful recent performances which has propelled them to the top of the table.

But on this occasion it was mainly down to the fact there are several match-winners in the side, none more so than flying winger Peter Fox, who pulled a rabbit out of the hat just when his side needed a bit of magic most.

Gateshead had clawed back from 16-4 down to draw level seven minutes into the second half and, with the Knights getting edgy and perhaps frustrated with some of the refereeing, the hosts were sensing a shock victory.

But 20-year-old Fox, already with eight league tries from four games, cut loose from half-way and backed himself against the full-back on a diagonal sprint to the line, just getting there to touch down as he was hauled to the floor.

Paul Thorman booted his third conversion against his former club and, although they never quite made the game safe, the Knights never really looked in danger thereafter, especially when Thorman added a penalty six minutes from time to put his side two scores ahead.

It didn't look like being such a close affair after the first 13 minutes as the Knights quickly reached double figures.

A flowing move down the left saw Neil Law, Lee Lingard and Matt Blaymire combine to send Ian Kirke to the sticks. Then, down the right, David Bates found Darren Callaghan on the burst to the line.

But Gateshead were no easy-beats and a fine move stretched the defence for centre Ian Brown to hit back with his first try for the club.

They then denied York momentum - helped by a referee who didn't punish lying-on enough - and at times threw the ball about dangerously.

However, they didn't really threaten the try-line, and on the half-hour York increased their lead. They had a massive overlap down the left but Jim Elston at dummy-half chose the more basic option of letting Yusuf Sozi blast over from the short-range against his former club.

However, the hosts again hit back as Aussie hooker Scott Collins dug over from acting-half for his first try for the club, Chris Birch goaling, and at half-time it was anybody's game.

Birch cut the gap to 12-16 with a penalty for interference two minutes after the restart and Gateshead, sensing a surprise, equalised with a try out wide for 17-year-old Joe Brown, his first for the club too.

Knights coach Mick Cook had again fielded a much-changed side, including a new half-back combination of Chris Ross and Paul Thorman, and while no-one was poor, everyone perhaps tried to impress too much individually, with not enough emphasis on playing for percentages.

It all seemed to be getting tense too, which could have got worse had Birch not missed a long-range penalty for a high tackle.

At the other end, Joe Burley pulled off a great try-saving tackle on Lingard as the Knights tried to regain a control of sorts. Cook's men did have chances to build pressure but forced things too much, returning prop David Bates perhaps being the most guilty as he looks to get match-sharpness.

It always looked like a piece of individual brilliance would be needed to break the stalemate - cue Fox on the run with his stunner.

Law then had a chance from dummy-half but knocked on at the line, while Dan Potter chipped and chased to force a drop-out. But, again, just as it seemed York would build pressure, mistakes allowed Gateshead to stay in there fighting.

Nonetheless, a high tackle on Sozi saw Thorman put the Knights eight points ahead and, even though Lingard had a late try to make the game safe ruled out for a forward pass, Thunder rarely got into the visitors' half in the final quarter and the points were won.

Former Knights loanee Calvin Watson scored a hat-trick on his loan debut at Hunslet as the Hawks, the Knights' opponents next week, beat Sheffield 30-12.

Match facts

LHF National League Two

Sunday, May 15, 2005

at Kingston Park

Thunder 16, Knights 24

Knights: Blaymire 7, Lingard 6, Potter 7, Law 7, Fox 7, Ross 6, P Thorman 7, Sullivan 7, Elston 7, Bates 6, Callaghan 6, Kirke 7, Paterson 6. Subs (all used): N Thorman 6, Ward 6, Smith 7, Sozi 6.

Tries: Kirke 7; Callaghan 13; Sozi 30; Fox 63.

Conversions: P Thorman 7, 30, 63.

Penalties: P Thorman 74.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Gateshead: Neighbour, Peers, I Brown, Firth, J Brown, Stringer, Birch, Cakacaka, Collins, Day, Garside, Bradley, Burley. Subs (all used): Carleton, Rutherford, St Bernard, Line.

Tries: I Brown 17; Collins 36; J Brown 46. Conversions: Birch 36. Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Neil Law - caused problems, especially in the first half, with deceptive running and good hands.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham). Rating: Inconsistent. He didn't punish several high shots and somehow missed a dangerous spear tackle on Neil Thorman, and allowed Gateshead to slow things down far too much.

Penalty count: 8-7.

HT: 10-16

Gamebreaker: A wonderful individual try by Peter Fox broke a second-half stalemate, and it was much-needed, too.

Attendance: 705.

Weather watch: Clear and deceptively hot on the pitch.

Match rating: Scrappy but in an entertaining way as nobody had a clue what would happen next.

Updated: 11:14 Monday, May 16, 2005