HThompson

Published at 00:00, Thursday, 02 November 2006

Cumbria RL 28, Tonga 16

A MAGNIFICENT 17-man performance saw Cumbria defeat Tonga at the Derwent Park duck pond last Wednesday night.

The relentless rain was always going to mar open-style rugby but both teams gave the 1,639 rugby league fans who braved the elements a display of guts, determination and brilliant rugby considering the conditions.

Cumbria, fielding just one Super League player in Huddersfield Giants’ winger Mat Gardner, opened the scoring in the second minute when Haven’s Carl Rudd slotted over a penalty.

Town’s Dean Vaughan and Raiders’ Brett McDermott put in several thundering hits to force Tonga to give up possession and two plays later Haven’s Graeme Mattinson slipped the ball to club team-mate Derry Eilbeck whose chip stopped in standing water for Gardner to dive in and get the touch. Rudd goaled with ease from wide on the right and Cumbria were 8-0 up in the sixth minute.

It was end-to-end stuff in the opening quarter, Haven winger Craig Calvert over-running another chip through when a try looked likely.

Tonga’s Joe Falemaka was just held up short as the South Sea Islanders tried to get on the scoreboard in the 13th minute, and two minutes later their efforts were rewarded when David Pangai was held short but managed to slip the ball to winger Paula Koloi who went in unopposed.

Feleti Mateo kicked the extras and Tonga were back in the game at 8-6.

Calvert again used his pace but kicked dead after good work from Raiders’ Liam Finch and Liam Harrison in the 31st minute, but they extended their lead with two more tries in three minutes.

Firstly McAvoy was just held up short of the line before, from acting half-back, Rudd chipped the ball over the Tongan defence for club-mate Carl Sice to get the touch in the 32nd minute. Then, in the 35th minute, Calvert was there to touchdown another clever kick through from Rudd who converted both for a 20-6 advantage.

But the Tongans hit back three minutes before the break when Mateo broke through several weak tackles to cross, Mateo goaling, to cut the half-time deficit to eight points at 20-12.

Tonga came out strong in the second half and Saia Makisi broke through the Cumbrian defence to score in the 43rd minute.

It was backs to the wall for Cumbria and their superb defence held the big Tongans at bay before extending their lead when McDermott drove forward and Haven’s Howard Hill was released down the right.

Hill beat two defenders before slipping the ball back inside for Liam Finch to ease over for a try.

Rudd continued his impressive evening’s kicking by goaling to edge Cumbria into a 10-point lead at 26-16 in the 52nd minute.

And it was left to Rudd to complete the scoring three minutes from time, with a fantastic 43-metre penalty, his sixth goal from six attempts on the night.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk