Blackpool Panthers 6, Gateshead Thunder 30

Jun 2 2008 The Journal

A RECORD-BREAKING fifth consecutive win saw Gateshead Thunder move to the top of Co-op National League Two ahead of Wednesday’s rearranged home game against Challenge Cup quarter-finalists Oldham.

Thunder backed up the excellent midweek win at Rochdale Hornets with a superb defensive effort on their return to Lancashire that restricted Blackpool to just one converted try.

The lowly Panthers had won their previous two games but were nilled in the first half as an in-form Gateshead opened up a 20-point lead.

An unchanged Thunder – the league’s leading points scorers – got off to another impressive start when young hooker Ryan Clarke finished off a move down the right.

Full-back Stuart Kain got on the end of Neil Thorman’s grubber kick to stretch the lead and play-maker Dan Russell hit a gap from 20 metres.

Winger Danny Wilson scored Gateshead’s fourth on the hooter, though Damian Munro grabbed the Panthers’ only try of what was, at times, a scrappy affair, after the break.

But any hopes of a comeback were soon dismissed when loose forward Dean Jamieson scored for the sixth game in the last seven as a superior Gateshead regained the initiative.

Substitute Lewis McPhail was held up in goal before impressive stand-off Thorman produced a length-of-the field try to put the icing on the of the cake for the visitors.

Thunder can now consolidate top spot with back-to-back home games against promotion rivals Oldham and Keighley Cougars this week.

SCORING – Gateshead Thunder: Tries: Clarke (11), Kain (17), Russell (21), Wilson (40), Jamieson (55), Thorman (79). Goals: Russell (3) Blackpool Panthers Tries: Munro (41). Goals: Ashton (1)

GATESHEAD THUNDER: Kain, Peers, Neighbour, McAlpine, Wilson, Thorman, Russell, Payne, Clarke, Parker, Nash, Knowles, Jamieson. Subs; (all used) Stephenson, McPhail, Barron,Cakacaka

Referee: Paul Carr (Castleford)

Attendance: 281