Gateshead Thunder 44 Blackpool Panthers 22

Blackpool Panthers have suffered some heavy reversals on their travels this season and it was with some trepidation that their supporters entered the International Stadium to meet a Gateshead side who needed one more win to clinch automatic promotion to National League One.

Blackpool could not have had a worse start, knocking on directly from the kick off, relief appeared at hand when Gateshead also knocked on at the first tackle, but to compound matters Blackpool knocked on again to see full back Brendon McAlpine waltz over for an unconverted try within 40 seconds of the match starting. After 7 minutes further slack defence saw centre Kevin Neighbour walk in unopposed for a try converted by Danny Russell to make the score 10-0. This was followed after 11 minutes by a further try by Michael Watson also converted by Russell to leave the hosts with a comfortable cushion of 16-0.

After 16 minutes the Panthers managed to mount their first attack and a towering kick by Chris Forster saw Gateshead drop the ball near their own line and the ever alert Forster pounced to score and convert his own try to reduce the arrears to 16-6.

Long distance tries by Neighbour, Nash and Thorman one converted by Russell saw the hosts lead by 30-6 after 30 minutes and a rout looked on the cards but coach Martin Crompton rung the changes and with all four substitutes on the field the Panthers stemmed the tide with some brave defence and scored the final try of the half when Forster intercepted a stray pass to race 70 yards to score in the corner to redude the half time arrears to 30-10.

The resolute Panthers held out for another 15 minutes in the second half before McAlpine followed through a clever kick to score an unconverted try in the corner. Further tries by Neighbour and Stevenson one converted by Russell, although the conversion clearly missed its target extended the home sides lead to 44-10 with 10 minutes remaining.

Further tries were expected and they duly came but it was the gallant Panthers who scored both the final tries. Prop forward Andy Marsh rounded off a promising debut to score from close range and Jon Clough finished off a slick move in the dying minutes. Both these tries were converted by Johnny Leather to leave the final score 44-22 and leave a far more respectable score than had looked likely earlier on.

Gateshead have surprised many this season with their strong showing and the clinching of promotion is just reward for their endeavours. Their next home game against Doncaster is live on Sky TV as they attempt to clinch the championship. For the Panthers two final battles await with fellow strugglers Hunslet and London Skolars as they attempt to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon yet again.