Points shared as Evans slices wide

■By MO SHER

Tynedale…………….. 19

Billingham………….. 19

IF there ever was a phrase to describe a typically combative, robust, National League affair, ‘hard fought’ couldn’t have been more apt at Corbridge.

Both sides refused to relent in defence and despite the teams trading six tries, every one was, well, hard won – and in the end, a draw was a fair result.

It was the hosts who drew first blood, the excellent Seamus Hutton getting himself across the whitewash and it proved to be the only scoring moment of a first half for the purists.

And whatever was spoken of in the Billingham changing room at half-time certainly had the desired effect.

Within two minutes of the restart they were level, via Joseph Ross, but the Tynedale response was equally swift – Ralph Johnston the man driven over.

Hutton and Ross then traded tries as the game threatened, albeit briefly, to come to life and while it never quite materialised, there was still plenty to keep the 200-odd fans interested.

Louie Groark smashed over for the equalising score with 15 minutes left and as the game threatened to meander towards an inevitable conclusion, Peter Evans was presented with an opportunity from the tee to win it for Billingham, but wide it sailed.