GUISBOROUGH RUFC suffered a last-minute defeat on their travels, losing by the odd point to Whitley Bay Rockliff.

Playing against a strong breeze in the first half, Guisborough were initially pinned back in their half, as the home side used the elements to their advantage.

Eventually, Guisborough broke into opposition territory, James Clark and Ewan Cameron combining to ease the pressure. A further break along the left wing by Rob Leggott and Michael Henderson kept play in the home team half, before a penalty kick took play back into the Guisborough 22. A sustained period of attack by Rockcliff tested the Guisborough defence, but excellent tackling saw the game remain pointless.

Just as it seemed that Guisborough had withstood Whitley Bay Rockliff pressure, an attack by the home team from the halfway line took play into the Guisborough 22. A misplaced pass out to the left wing didn’t seem to pose any threat, but was gathered by the Rockcliff winger, who crossed the try line unopposed to score. The subsequent conversion was successful.

Guisborough came back strongly and, after a kick from defence by the hosts failed to reach touch, Phil Shields ran the ball back into the Whitley Bay Rockliff 22. A penalty awarded to the visitors was kicked five metres out. From the line out, Leggott collected and was driven forward. Moving towards the whitewash, Luke Berry took possession and dived over to score. The conversion sailed wide.

A tremendous tackle by Shields halted an attack by the home team on the halfway line, before Guisborough were awarded a penalty that was kicked to touch. At the line out, Tony Conway broke through the opposition defence and into the 22. Short of the try line an infringement allowed Guisborough to kick to touch ten metres out. A further catch and drive from the line out saw the Guisborough pack push forward, but just as it seemed that a second try was inevitable, Whitley Bay Rockliff managed to steal the ball and kick clear.

The first half ended 7-5 to Whitley Bay Rockliff.

Rockcliff began the second half well and were first to threaten, but excellent defending by Guisborough kept the opposition from adding any further points. Gradually Guisborough moved down the pitch and gained control of the game. Clark powered through the hosts’ defence with a thunderous run, before Jack Robinson and Oli Muir made progress into the visitors’ 22. Taken on further by the pack, they were in touching distance of the try line, but allowed the home team to clear through a penalty.

Back came Guisborough and Jannie Jacobs broke through the midfield before being halted by a high tackle on the 22 metre line. Up stepped Robinson to slot the resulting penalty through the posts and give his team a slender lead. A strong run by Ben Wood had his team going forward again, but an injury to an opponent saw any progress halted.

With Guisborough looking comfortable and seeing the game out, Whitley Bay Rockliff were awarded a brace of penalties that took play close to the visitors’ try line. A quick tap forward brought momentum, before the ball was shipped to the left wing, where a try was scored. The conversion missed its target. There was only sufficient time for Guisborough to kick off and for the referee to award another penalty in favour of the home team, before the game finished.

The last-minute score gave the hosts a 12-8 victory. There is no game on Saturday but next week the season resumes with another away trip, this time at Hartlepool.