1. 74 THE CHRONICLE THURSDAY, MARCH 6,201
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No sign of Division One leaders Shil losing their Bottle
Baptist
team in
seventh
heaven
THIRD-BOflOM Mor
peth Baptist Church beat
basement side St Peter’s
Low Fell 7-2 in the Premier
Division.
Michael Howson and
David Fleming notched
for the Fell.
Baptist Church netted
through John Packer (3),
Ryan Jenson, Man Tan
nery and Clark Gunn to
move up a place in the
table.
In Division One, Stock
ton Church United
returned to winning ways
with a 2-I success against
St John’s Snod’s Edge.
Luke Brannen putStock
ton in front before Duncan
McCulloch equalised for
Saints
In the 87th minute
Farma Jatta grabbed the
winner for the Teessiders.
Newcastle Christian Life
Centre netted three sec
ond-half goals through
Eric Siqueros, John Lines
and Thomas Boffi to tri
umph 3-0 over Beech-
wood Eden Easterside.
Neil Garlick, Ryan Lans
ley and James Cleave
• notched in the first halffor
Christ Church Durham at
Influence Corinthians
Richmond.
Influence hit back
through Joe Arundell but
Cleave added his second
and Josh Gill netted as
Christ Church ran out 5-1
victors.
In the League Cup,
North Shields Christ
Church took a 1-0 half
time lead courtesy of Tom
Eastlake over Consett
Saint Patricks.
Tom Lavendar was on
the mark twice and Andy
Murray and Gary Charlton
then scored as Consett
moved into a 4-1 lead.
Andy Sword and Kris
Ross reduced the deficit
for Shields, but Saints held
on to win and now visit
Jesmond Parish Church in
the last eight.
Jesmond Parish Church
trounced YAV SIFF 9-0.
• On target for the Tyne
siders were Dean Allsopp
(2), Dan Greaves (4) , Will
Ward (2) and Mick Hend
erson.
Holders Stockton Por
track beat St Bede’s Bed
lington 5-1.
SHILBOflLE CW continue to
lead the way in Division One
Four goals from Josh Hay, two
by Liam Brooks and strikes from
Ryan Douglas and Stephen
Shendon saw them beat Tweed-
mouth Harrow, whose two
replies were scored by Andy
Burgon and Jordan Richardson.
A Danny Johnson finish was
enough to give Bamburgh the
win against Springhill.
THREE rising rugby stars are set
to play for the England Students
squad against Wales tomorrow
night.
Back row Will Witty, fly-half
George Cullen and winger Joe
Beckett head to Oxford Univer
sity for the 7.30 showdown.
Tom Wilkinson, director of
rugby at Newcastle University,
said: “I am delighted for the
three of them to-b~seIected.
“They are three of the hardest
working players in our set-up
and are all guys the other lads in
the squad look up to.
“Joe in particular has worked
so hard for three seasons and
has captained us for two years.
“It is a well-overdue call-up
but I will be over the moon to see
him win a cap.
“Newcastle University Rugby
Club are moving in the right
direction and the players are a
huge part ofthat:’
Debutant Christopher Coe
and Sam Proudlock were the
Rothbury marksmen as they
shared the points with North
Sunderland, whose goalscorers
were Neil Macfarlane and Chris
Hay.
In Division Two, a Shaun Toal
finish and strikes from John
Mowbray, Stephen Watson,
UNIVERSITY RUGBY
Beckett, 21, is looking forward
to his first start with the white
shirt.
He said: “I am hugely thanlc
ful for the opportunity to play for
my country and I am glad I have
been given the thance to show
what I can do.
“I expect to have a hugely suc
cessflil game, as I know the team
around me and I know boys who
can deliver big performances,
which will hopefully pay off:’
Beckett, from Horsham, West
Sussex, added: “There is noth
big better than stepping up with
great players..
“Witty is a potential stat He is
a Yorkshire lad who is the size of
a house.
“Cullen is an outstanding fly
halt with more flair than any No
lOlhaveplayedwith.
“I have played with him for
NTH/LAND LEAGUE
Harry Woolhouse, Lee Pattin
sonand Daniel ScottsawCraster
Rovers to a comfortable win
against Hedgeley Rovers, whose
single reply came from a Patrick
Gritton own goal.
In the Runclman Cup, Brad
McLelland netted a hat-trick in
the win over Duns while Wans
beck netted five times without
three years and playing next to
one ofyour close mates makes It
that little bit more special:’
Witty, 18, is joining England
Students after an impressive de
but performance which helped
England Under-18s triumph
23-3 over Australia Schools last
December in London.
He said: “I am really thrilled
and.excited about the invite.
“After playing in the game
against Australia it has made me
want to play more representative
rugby.
“The experience of playing
against such a huge rugby nation
was great and I enjoyed it.
“Representing your country is
really exciting but to do it with
some of your team-mates from
Newcastle makes it even more of
a special occasion.”
Cullen, 20 and from Hertford
shire, is determined to make an
impact for England Students,and
reply in a win at Wooler
Reserves.
Paul Wood notched twice for
Lowick United as they put six
past Embleton WR and Judd
Donohoe scored twice as
Ainmouth United beat Lyne
mouth Anglers.
A Sean Palmer counter was
not enough as Red Row Welfare
lost out to AFC Newbiggin in the
NFA Minor Cup semi-finals.
is expecting to face an aggressive
Welsh side in what he believes
will be a tough test on a personal
level and for the team.
He said: “I am really excited
about the opportunity.
“It is something I had as an
aim at the start of the season so
to have made it is great.
“It will be a great honour to
represent England and I just
cannot wait to get stuck in.
“Wales will provide tough op
position as always, so it will be
important we all come together
well as a group7
England will be looking to
make the most of their first fix
ture on home soil in what is the
last fully-capped game of the se
ries before they take on Scotland
in a development game.
Tomorrow’s game comes in
the wake of a 39-10 defeat to
France Universities and a 30-16
win over Portugal.
• COUNDON and Leeholm
triumphed 5-1 at Ebcheste
Consett Reserves in the Dui
ham Alliance League.
Scorers for Coundon wer
Christopher Howe, Daniel Ken
John Cunningham, Martin Hou
lahan and Scott Hassle, Is
Peacock for Ebchester.
Andrew Hope hit the on!
goal to give Sherburn Village
1-0 win at Coxhoe United.
Heed gel
stick off
winners
Preston
HOCKEY
GATESHEAI) Firsts wer
down fighting as they 1w
5-3 to Premier Divisio.
side Preston.
The first half was a
even affair as both team
struggled to forge man
chances.
Preston were the
awarded a dubious penal
ty corner, which they pt
away neatly to take a 1-
lead.
This seamed to rattl
Gateshead as Presto
turned the screw and too
advantage to increase thei
lead with a cool reverse
stick finish.
As the game looked
be sliding away from th
Tynesiders’ reach, a Day
Carruthers goal from
narrow angle pulled bac
the scoreline to 2-1.
As the game progresse
Preston formation starte
to show cracks and thei
confidence was noticeabl
dented as Gateshea
pushed forward.
It was Gateshead’s Chri
Traynor’s step on to th
defender to steal the ba
on the edge of the circl
andsmash homeareverse
stick shot which levelle
the score at 2-2 at hali
time.
The second period wa
again an even affair befor
Gateshead’s Mike Whit
made the Preston defenc
pay for their mistakes a
he slotted the ball Into th
bottom corner.
Preston levelled on th
counter attack.
Mart Collins and captat
Jervis Fleming were the
controversially sin-binne
for questioning an umpb
ing decision over a free K
award.
This totally changed th
pattern ofthe game, givin
Preston the upper hand
whichtheytookfulladvaxi
tage of with two furthe
goals to seal victory.
V
On England duty tomorrow night are Newcastle University rugby trio Joe Beckett (left), Will
Witty (centre) and George Cullen (inset)
Student honours go
to cityfls England trio
— _ _ a