Newcastle Thunder 50 – 16 South Wales Scorpions
Sunday July 3, Newcastle
Defensive lapses cost South Wales Scorpions dear against a strong Newcastle Thunder side, who ran in nine tries to keep up the hunt for a top eight spot.
Scorpions now have one game left in the regular season, away at Coventry Bears, before the League 1 Shield begins.
The first dropped ball came in the first couple of minutes, giving Thunder the opportunity to take the lead but a knock on meant the chance was wasted.
The hosts managed to take the lead on six minutes.
Aaron Teroi was held up over the line but from the next play, Tom Reudiger scored near to the corner. Hardcastle sliced the kick wide.
Soon after, another score came from the final play of a set when Reudiger ran through for his and Thunder’s second. Hardcastle this time made no mistake from the conversion to make it 10-0.
Scorpions struck back on 18 minutes when Richard Jones reached over the line when under pressure. Paul Emanuelli converted.
Thunder extended their lead on the half-hour when Jason Payne was given too much space to score on his first game back this season from injury. Hardcastle converted to make the scores 16-6 at the break.
Thunder went further ahead with the first attack of the second half, Derrell Olpherts running half the length of the field to score with Hardcastle improving.
Scorpions were leaving too many gaps in defence and Josh Kittrick was the next to take advantage, running over for his side’s fifth try before Reudiger added another.
Jamie Murphy got a try back with Emanuelli’s kick hitting the post but it was just brief respite as Reudiger ran from half-way for his fourth with Hardcastle again kicking the goal.
Scorpions fought back and were rewarded with a third try, Alex Davidson forcing his way over and Emanuelli converting.
Newcastle, aiming to improve their points difference going into the end of the season, ran in two more tries with Olpherts and Mikey Wood both crossing and Hardcastle converting both to bring his side’s total up to 50.
• Match report by Ian Golden.