Anybody expecting to see a friendly, expansive game was left in no doubt as to the intentions of the players when a brawl erupted just 5 minutes into the game. What started as a small fracas between a couple of players soon escalated with around 20 players from both sides rushing in to get involved in what were pretty unpleasant scenes. After eventually calming things down referee Chris Wray despatched Anth Carr and Tigers lock Edy Gauche to the sin-bin.
While it might not have been a good advert for the game it certainly spiced things up and made sure both sets of players were more than eager to win the game not just play out a pointless fixture.
West opened the scoring on 15 minutes when they built several phases inside the Tigers half and with advantage being played for several offside offences, scrum-half Young wriggled out of a tackle and raced in under the posts. Tom Dixon made no mistake with the simple conversion for a 7-0 lead.
It was to be about the only attacking West would do for the rest of the half. The visitors laid siege to the home line, spending long periods in the 22 but coming up against some robust defence that proved difficult to penetrate. They eventually got a try on the half-hour through Gauche, emerging from the bottom of a rolling maul, but Charlie Baumberg failed to add the conversion.
The 7-5 scoreline remained until half-time despite further territorial dominance from the Tigers and even though West had defended excellently in the opening period they knew they would need to score more points if they hoped to hold on to the lead.
And that lead proved short lived with a penalty from Baumberg just 3 minutes into the second half. West were not deterred though and managed to gain some territory, advancing to the Tigers 22. It looked like a scoring chance had passed by when, after three successive penalties and kicks to the corner, the lineout was stolen. But from a scrum, still inside the 22, Young charged down an attempted clearance and somehow won the foot race to the loose ball, touching down for his second try of the game, his tenth of the season. Dixon again added the conversion.
The hosts were now growing in confidence and Painter stretched the lead with a superb try on 62 minutes. The forwards rolled a maul past half way and when the ball eventually came out Painter made a great break before rounding the full-back to score under the posts. Dixon added his third conversion to make the score 21-8 and seemingly secure the game.
But Sheffield bounced straight back. Full-back Jon Storey scored a great try just 5 minutes later, taking the ball in the back-line and racing away on an arcing run to the corner after quick ball from the top of the lineout. Baumberg missed a crucial conversion to keep the lead at more than a single score.
With 8 minutes to go Dixon missed a shot at goal and when West dealt poorly with the long 22 drop out John Dudley crossed for Tigers in the right corner, finishing off a huge overlap to close the gap to just 3 points. Again Baumberg was unsuccessful with the conversion.
A nail-biting finish approached and with West beginning to tire on a warm afternoon having had to do so much tackling against a much bigger pack, it was Tigers who all of a sudden looked resurgent. As the minutes ticked away they advanced into the 22 thanks to a long kick and a knock-on by Danny Weegram gave them a 5 metre scrum. But Young was able to disrupt at the base and West eventually worked the ball clear. It proved to be Tigers last chance with referee Wray declaring the last play of the game and West clearing to touch.
Despite the result having no baring on league positions it was still a credible win for West and a marker for how far such a young team has come this season. Third place is really an astonishing achievement given the average age of the side and there's no reason why next season they can't go one better.
West: Hare, Williamson, Edwards, Howe, Weegram, Painter, Young, Carr, A Dixon, Norris (Robinson), Miller, T Dixon, D Boatman (Rudd), Myers, J Boatman (capt)
Tries: Young 2, Painter
Cons: T Dixon 3
Sheff Tigers: Storey, Griffiths, Pound, Trivella, J Cox, Baumberg, C Cox, Toews (capt), Muller, Parkin, Joel, Gauche, Jones, Holes, Dudley
Subs: Ryder, Hanekom, Bell
Tries: Gauche, Storey, Dudley
Pen: Baumberg
Referee: Chris Wray [Durham Society]
Related Links:
Team For Tigers
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Author: Andy Quinn
Date: 16-04-07 07:22
Thought all the team played excellent. Only 1 point i want to make, the ref should have sent at least one of their team off, very dirty team :-!
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Author: west girl
Date: 16-04-07 08:11
THere were a few cheap shots - esp the smack in the face Gav took when he scored that try.
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Author: Andy Quinn
Date: 16-04-07 08:14
also their No8 was on the floor on his back and he kicked one of our lads full in the face with his studs...not on :-!
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Author: MikeyBoy
Date: 16-04-07 15:00
good game, west played some good rugby. Both sheffield teams have been very dirty this season
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