Hodgson lifts Tynedale

Established fly half Gavin Beasley has yet to appear this season because of a back problem and Tynedale have struggled to play to their potential other than when Hodgson has been at No 10.

An England Under 18 player last season, the Newcastle Royal Grammar School product signed a three-year deal with the Falcons in April.

But doubts remain about whether there is room for a will-o’-the-wisp among the battering behemoths who inhabit the Premiership and Hodgson has to rely on National One outings to showcase his skills.

He didn’t make the best of starts on Saturday as his rather brainless kick-off never had a chance of travelling ten metres into the gale sweeping down the Tyne Valley.

Nor does he appear to have the makings of a prolific goalkicker, but otherwise he was very impressive, particularly in his distribution. Despite the wind, even his long passes regularly found their target with unerring accuracy and he also showed an eye for the gap.

Hodgson darted through for the only try of the first half ten minutes before the break and had a hand in two of the three which arrived in the last 15 minutes, securing the bonus point.

It was impossible to imagine how Cinderford topped 50 points on their Forest of Dean pitch against Blaydon three weeks ago as they never looked like scoring at Corbridge.

With the wind behind them they got close to the line only once and in the second half they rarely escaped their own half.

Fly half Rory Teague, who had tormented Blaydon, was outplayed by Hodgson, who showed better judgement when kicking downwind.

A 22-metre drop out by Teague in the first half travelled over the dead ball line, while a finely-weighted kick from halfway by Hodgson pinned a Cinderford winger on the line and led to the try which ended their resistance.

After failing to harness the elements before the interval the visitors emerged for the second half to find themselves facing driving rain.

An uncomfortable 40 minutes seemed certain and for the next 20 most of the play took place around their 22.

They handled quite well in trying to break out, but were twice penalised for not releasing.

On the first occasion Hodgson missed a straightforward penalty and thereafter Tynedale opted for kicks to the corner or scrums – an area in which they dominated, despite the continued absence of prop Jonny Williams.

That enabled the powerful Myles Scott to make some telling charges from No 8, while outside centre Chris Harris looked the most dangerous back on the field.

Despite facing the wind, Tynedale went close several times before Hodgson darted though a gap to score from ten metres following two powerful scrummages.

They struggled to build on the lead until a scrum also led to the second try with 15 minutes left. An attempted pushover ended just short, then with Matty Outson tied in Hodgson went in at the base of a ruck and flung out a pass which Harris took on the burst to romp over.

Five minutes later Hodgson’s kick to the line set up the chance for the forwards to drive over.

The bonus point try came from the last move of the match when centre Thomas Bramwell took a blind side pass on the left wing and stepped inside to beat two tackles in a 20-metre run to the line. Hodgson added his second conversion.