Ashington Joint Welfare RFC

Ashington were desperately unlucky to lose this exciting first league game in 18 months to an injury time penalty. Both sides surprisingly had key players unavailable, the Ash touch judge Ian Storey had to pass a late fitness test and even the referee Mark Jude was a late replacement. It was Ryton who settled into their rhythm first and dominated long periods of play in the first half scoring their first try after 5 minutes to give the home side a 5-0 lead. Ashingtons only attacking threat in the first quarter came from a bursting 50m run from centre Josh Weekes who couldn’t quite time his pass to supporting winger Cory Whitworth. Ryton continued to have the bulk of the ball and only heroic Ash defence including 3 outstanding Jack Taylor cover tackles kept the Ryton score down to a second converted try and a 12-0 lead. Ashingtons best period came in the final 10 minutes of the half with a rumbling drive from the base of the scrum from Jonta Johnson and a drive from prop Ian Brierly that was stopped just short of the try line.

Just before half time Ashington lost hooker Harry Lumley, forcing a pack reshuffle with Shaun Swallow making his debut in the back row and Lewis Henderson moving into the front row. The second half saw a complete change in play with Ashington starting to dominate. It began with a good kick and chase by fullback James Turner which was followed up with a strong run by Ian Brierly, well supported by Shaun Swallow. From the resulting penalty a quick burst by Johnny Arkle and good hands from Johnson saw Cory Whitworth swerve outside the 2 covering defenders to score in the corner to give a 12-5 scoreline 10 minutes into the second half. 5 minutes later, strong carries by Brierly, Arkle, Moffatt and Johnson, saw Moffatt carry for the second time in the move to crash through 2 defenders to score, Arkle converting to give a 12-12 score.

Moving into the final quarter a drive by Dickinson saw the supporting Arkle break away from half way, he timed his pass perfectly to Owen Jarvis who raced under the posts for a try converted by Arkle to give a 12-19 lead to Ashington. Ryton finished strongly as the game began to open up with Henderson, Smart, Parsons and Weekes all making excellent tackles, Arkle, Whitworth and Dickinson making pressure relieving breaks, the second Dickinson break from a More lineout take. Moving into injury time both Turner and Moffatt made potentially try saving tackles before the referee awarded a penalty for offside in front of the posts to give Ryton a 20-19 lead. This was an excellent second half performance with every member of the Ashington team giving 100 per cent; stand out performances coming from Dickinson, Parsons, Arkle and Weekes but man of the match went to Matthew Moffatt for his all round second half display.

This Saturday Ashington 1s are away to Seaham, with the vets away to Egremont.