Duncan French and Pete Rogers spearheaded the points tally on Sunday against a spirited Rams team who had some key players missing on the trip to Gateshead.

After a defensive battle by both sides in the first quarter they entered the second period where French scored in the early stages on a 9 yard run with Pete Rogers going in for the two points putting the home side up 8 - 0. On the kick off the Rams were forced back deep in their own half with some good defensive work by the Senators and had to punt. Another good drive by Gateshead moved the ball up the field and a pass gathered in by Richard Holme from David Nimmins got them to Yorkshire’s 3 yard marker. Gateshead put another six on the board with a Nimmins pass to Rogers, Rogers running the ball in for the two when the snap for the kick went wrong. Another touchback on the Ram’s own 20 yard line from the kick off gave the Senator’s the edge once more and a sack on Simon Dewdney, a Yorkshire penalty and an interception by Gateshead’s Wimmie Vantergouw got the home side possession at Yorkshire’s 17 yard line. The Rams got some relief on the first play when a fumbled snap was recovered by Ben Mathews to get the visitors the ball back but another sack on Dewdney forced the punt. After a missed field goal by Gateshead late in the half Yorkshire put together a good drive but could not punch the score in before time ran out leaving the score 16 - 0 to the home side.

The third quarter started well for the Rams with the kick off being returned well by Lee Taylor and a penalty by Gateshead started Yorkshire close to the halfway line. They followed this by some good running by Justin Lester to get the ball into Senator’s territory where Rik Lowthion linked with JJ Forder for a 34 yard score. Midway through the period the Senators increased their lead following a good drive reaching the Ram’s 4 yard line where on fourth down they went for the points. Nimmins lobbed the ball to Rogers, who was awarded an opposition MVP from the Rams, and with Tom Henniker receiving the catch for the two the scoreboard read 24 - 6. The Rams couldn’t do anything offensively on the kick off and had to punt with the ball nicely bouncing away from the sideline to Gateshead’s 21 yard spot. The quarter ended with an interception by Yorkshire’s Steve Goulden to start the fourth period with the ball in the visitor’s possession.

The final quarter was all action, unfortunately for Yorkshire most of it was Gateshead. Some good strong runs by Ram’s Rich Handby and Andy Hill, who received the Ram’s MVP for a superb game on both sides of the ball, moved their team steadily up the field and a pass from Lowthion to Forder took them into scoring position at Gateshead’s 7 yard line. Lester rarely misses chances this close and didn’t on this occasion going in for the six. He also went in for the two points putting the score at 24 - 14 and everything to go for. This was dented on the first play after the kick off when French jigged his way 55 yards to add six to the Senator’s total, 30 - 14. Yorkshire put themselves at a disadvantage when they were intercepted at their own 23 yard mark from where Nimmins threw to Richard Green to put his team up 36 - 14. Yorkshire strung some more good plays together but the Senator’s ‘D’ held them back from another scoring chance and took the ball over. The home side’s next TD came from Hytham Hamad, a recent transfer from the Rams, who went through the middle for a 24 yard score. Late in the game a fumble by Gateshead was recovered at his own 6 yard line by Yorkshire’s Simon Connor got the ball back for the travellers but they lost possession with another interception at halfway with just over a couple of minutes to go. The Senators added a final TD when a long pass and a Ram’s penalty got them inside the ten and two plays later John Harrison went in from four yards to make the final score 48 - 14 to the home team.

Yorkshire’s next game is another road trip, the East Kilbride Pirates, always a strong force in the BSL. The Ram’s hope that their players have shaken off their illnesses and knocks for the journey North and follow this game by a home match on the 20th against the Staffordshire Surge at the Ram Stadium, Dewsbury.