Hood: We'll battle back to dominate opposition

Feb 7 2010 by Nick Purewal, Sunday Sun

CHRIS HOOD expects his Gateshead Thunder side to keep battling to dominate first-up tackles when they take on Workington Town in the Northern Rail Cup today.

Thunder entertain Workington at Gateshead Stadium (kick-off 3pm), keen to build on their battling 50-6 defeat at Widnes on Tuesday night.

Thunder rugby director Hood slammed his men for their first-half performance, hammering his players for failing to harass the home side anywhere near enough.

But after the break Hood was delighted with their application, believing they smashed into the first-up contact situation, never letting the Northern Rail Cup holders settle into a rhythm.

Calling for more of the same today, Hood said: “We had a very poor first half on Tuesday, but after the break we were vastly improved, and I thought very good overall.

“We didn’t get into the tackles or the rucks enough, we didn’t compete physically and we were overrun a little bit.