Former North Division One side Gateshead Senators were unbeaten when they took on the Tees Valley Cougars last weekend and that is how it stayed.

Despite the final score of Cougars 0 Senators 30, the home team took a great deal from the game as the Cougars are a brand new side while the Senators have been on the American football scene for many years. The First Quarter saw the Cougars defence repeatedly stop the Senators from scoring but in the Second Quarter the experienced Senators scored 14 points.

Michael Rumney, the Darlington-born Senator running back powered up the middle from six yards out to score the first touchdown of the game. A beautiful lofted pass from Dave Nimmins to Lee Fraser saw the score increase to 8-0.

With the momentum starting to shift, Teesside tried to move the ball from deep in their own end but after a series of penalties were forced to punt from their own 22. The bouncing punt was picked up by Mark Lindsey and returned against the run of play for 18 yards. Starting from the Cougars 28, Craig Million broke the play and scampered 28 yards for the score. A failed two-point conversion meant the score was Gateshead 14, Cougars 0. Half way through the second quarter.

The Third Quarter then saw the Gateshead squad step up a gear and scoring 16 points, and during this section of the game the Cougars quarterback, Peter Rogers, left the field injured.

Steve Hudson then stepped up to the huddle and almost saw the Cougars score as he focused on being the Cougars' stand in quarter back in a very tough game.

Staring from their own nine yard line from the kick-off, Nimmins guided a well-controlled drive down the field mixing up the run and pass to the eight yard line. After a good Cougar stand, Gateshead were faced with a fourth and goal from the eight. From a bootleg, Nimmins fired a pass into coverage to see young Richard Green grab the ball to increase the lead to 20-0. The two-point conversion was good as Michael Rumney fired off-tackle for the score. With the score at 22-0.

A penalty saw Gateshead moved back ten yards, but this gave QB Nimmins more room to work with and he hit receiver Christopher Mayne on a crossing pattern in the corner of the end zone. With a pass to Mark Lindsey in the back of the box, the score was now 30-0 in Gateshead's favour. Rogers did return to the field after treatment in the Fourth Quarter but couldn't help the offence press any points on the board.

Meanwhile, the Cougars defence stood firm and prevented the Senators from scoring during the final quarter.

With torrential rain bouncing of the astro-turf, Gateshead ran the clock down and any hope of Cougars scoring to end the game with a hard fought victory.

At the end of the game Cougars PR manager Greg Beswick said: "We did very well out here today, even though we lost, not mant teams can hold the Senators to 30 points. What we need to do is believe in ourselves more and we could be in a similar position they are. I hope they do well this season as the more successful teams are in the northern region in this sport the better it will be."

Gateshead now go into their next game at North Shields Rugby club on the 25th May against Edinburgh Wolves.