Thunder get battering; RUGBY L

Gateshead Thunder............................. 12 Workington.......................................... 26 BROKEN noses, black eyes and dented pride coloured Gateshead Thunder's defeat yesterday, but Chris Hood was most concerned with his side's inability to turn pressure into points, writes NICK PUREWAL.

Admitting his men could have stolen a first Northern Rail Cup win had they not bungled a couple of late chances, rugby director Hood said the frustration in defeat is still a positive step forward.

Workington edged out Thunder at Gateshead Stadium despite the home men running in three tries. Thunder's postmatch changing room scene looked more like Accident and Emergency after a night on the Bigg Market, said Hood.

However, he is happy to patch up his players, provided they keep on improving. "A few of the guys were struggling after taking some interesting hits from Workington's ball-carrying techniques," said Hood, "but that's just one of those things.

"It wasn't pretty but you just get on with it, the biggest frustration is that we were in the position to take things forward and maybe get a result but we wasted several opportunities we worked hard to create.

"We must keep it in perspective though.

Given where we are in our development, after the off-season troubles and everything, I think we are doing pretty well.

"The fact we are all angry, frustrated and upset about a defeat to Workington is a positive step forward, but now we need to learn the lessons and step up again.

"We had a few late chances to change the outcome and didn't take them, and that cost us dear."

Thunder lost half-back Liam Duffy to a rib injury, and Hood hopes his backline leader will not be out for any length of time.

11:48 - 2010-Apr-27 - post comment