Milford Marlins 14 Gateshead Thunder 38: Thunder win as Milford pay the penalty
The Leeds-based National Conference club had opportunities to overcome their semi-professional visitors but over-exuberance in their bid to impress cost them dearly.
A heavy penalty count against Milford meant Gateshead were able to take control, principally on the back of some sterling work from props Jason Payne, Steven Welton, Nick Staveley and Adam Barron.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCoach Richard Pell had his side well-organised and those forwards did too much damage to a lightweight Milford team whose average age was just 21.
The plucky hosts were rewarded with three tries from Josh Parle, Sam Hood and Ryan Oxtoby, who also added a conversion.
Gateshead: Condron; Green, Morris, Massey, Peers; Coates, Clarke; Staveley, Hodgson, Parker, Stoker, Kelly, Ward. Substitutes: Olugeoche, Welton, Payne, Barron.
Milford: McGann; S Hood, Jones-Bishop, Richardson, B Hood; Parle, Ward; Coates, Elkington, Speight, A Barker, J Barker, Green. Substitutes: Reeves, Elliker, Watmough.
Referee: C Halloran (RFL).