Ben Rhydding 4 Newcastle University 1

Ben Rhydding bounced back from last week’s deplorable display with a solid display against Newcastle University who, surprisingly, are languishing at the bottom of the league.

Following some stern words from the management team of Mark French and Demi Dowley, Rhydding came out firing on all cylinders and an early move involving some crisp passing between a rejuvenated David Birkenshaw and skipper Andrew Parkes set the tone for the day.

Rhydding could and should have been up after ten minutes as they tore the student team apart but they failed to convert with Neil Sugden, who looked back to near his best otherwise, squandering one chance in particular.

With David Carter back in goal and commanding both his circle and his defence the defence looked stronger as 16 year-old Joe Drakard showed his clear potential alongside the terrier like Danny Foster.

Sam French,14, celebrated getting through to the last 26 at England U-16 level with a mature performance, initially at right-half and then at inside forward. Kiwi Tim Dryden made an astonishing entrance when a storming run ended with him firing a shot just over the bar.

Rhydding deservedly went ahead, though not before Carter had made a couple of important saves, when Craig Smith, another to find form again, scored a brilliant individual goal bursting through the middle and calmly slotting past the Newcastle ’keeper.

Rhydding then got a short corner on the stroke of half-time and a switch move saw Parkes crash the ball home with a powerful reverse stick shot.

The second-half saw the students rally and pull a goal back but the Rhydding defence, with vice-captain Steve Mitchell a towering presence, did not melt away as they had the previous week. Rhydding remained positive with Mark Wilson, clearly hampered by a back injury, Cameron Borrett, returning after injury, and the evergreen David Cutter making some superb runs up front augmented by Birkenshaw and the mercurial Parkes.

It was Parkes who wrapped the game up, first snapping up a rebound and then completing his hat-trick with a delightful piece of skill which ended with him cheekily lifting the ball over the hapless Newcastle ’keeper to the delight of the sizeable crowd.

The win consolidated Rhydding’s mid-table position and they surely must realise that with a bit of commitment they can compete with even the top sides in the league. Whether they all have that commitment remains to be seen.