Championships Team of the Week – August 18th

Correspondent 22 Aug 2013 11:29 AM

Premier Sports Performance of the Week – Gateshead Thunder

Gateshead’s dramatic 36-34 win at Gloucestershire All Golds guarantees Thunder will avoid the wooden spoon for the first time in four years.

Thunder coach Kevin Neighbour said: “I was elated with the result and it’s another pat on the backs for the lads.

“It’s taken a long time, but there’s a belief among them now. We’ve nearly beaten North Wales and we went close against Rochdale.

“If we win our next game we’ll miss out on the play-offs by a point. We’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks.”

Premier Sports Try of the Week – Benn Hardcastle (Gateshead Thunder)

Thunder trailed 34-30 against Gloucestershire All Golds after Curtis Cunningham’s 77th-minute try, before Gateshead reclaimed possession from the restart and Benn Hardcastle struck at the death.

Gateshead coach Kevin Neighbour said: “I actually missed Benn’s try because I couldn’t watch the game any more. When the All Golds had scored I was pretty broken.

“I still had an inkling something was going to happen, and when we got the ball back from a short kick off I turned around and said to my assistant: ‘I can’t watch’.

“Having seen it now on video, Benn’s put in a massive dummy and shot straight through, with the full back following the pass that wasn’t to be. It was the same try he scored against Rochdale last week and a great way to finish.”

Premier Sports Championship Team of the Week

1 Mick Butterfield (Doncaster)

2 Greg Johnson (Batley Bulldogs)

3 Max Wiper (Barrow Raiders)

4 Ben Heaton (Halifax)

5 Steve Maden (Leigh Centurions)

6 Anthony Nicholson (Barrow Raiders)

7 Thomas Coyle (Hunslet Hawks)

8 Tony Tonks (Halifax)

9 James Davey (Sheffield Eagles)

10 Mark Castle (Doncaster)

11 James Lockwood (Featherstone Rovers)