It has been a tremendous campaign for the first team, losing only three times in the league and finally earning some reward for all those dark days in the post-professional era. Tim Sawyer has been inspirational from the sidelines and fellow coach Davy Tighe has shown he is far from ready to hang up his boots with a great season at scrum-half. The achievement is made all that more impressive by the fact the pairing are in the first season as coaches and still have a relatively young squad.
It has been made well known that without the people who kept the club going through all the years of defeats and relegations this promotion season would not have been possible and today must have been that extra bit enjoyable for them. It was not so enjoyable for town-rivals Rovers who were confined to the drop after hearing results from Old Crossleyans and Carlisle had not gone their way.
The game itself, as per most of the recent derbies, was not much of a spectacle. West dominated up front in the scrum but Rovers defended well and disrupted a lot of ball. The visitors line-out let them down at key times though with Tom Dixon doing some good stealing work at the front and West had much the better of the territory, particularly in the second half.
Rob Thorn, potentially playing his last game for the club, opened the scoring with a typically well finished try on 14 minutes. Davy Tighe broke from the base of a ruck on half way and fed Thorn who beat the covering tackle to touch down in the corner.
A flurry of yellow cards from referee John Meredith first saw Steve Wallis sin-binned for handling in the ruck before Rovers capitalised on West losing two men to the sidelines. Firstly Paul Rudd stupidly interfered with play from an offside position at the ruck and minutes later Dan Boatman joined his back row colleague, seeing yellow for persistent infringement. Playing 15 against 13 Rovers took the lead through 10 points from Chris Sainty. His penalty on 34 minutes was followed by a try and conversion two minutes later. The try came thanks to a blocked Gavin Painter grubber kick on half way leaving Sainty to collect and race away.
With Rovers on a roll West were simply looking to get to the break without shipping more points but in fact drew level before the interval. Paul Kirton joined the yellow card club for a high tackle and with a rolling maul powering towards the line and drawing in defenders the ball was moved out to Thorn who touched down in the same corner for his second try of the game and 20th of the season.
The rolling maul was again key in West taking the lead 5 minutes into the second half. An unstoppable rumble saw Tom Dixon emerge as the scorer, Moss slotting the conversion for a 17-10 lead. Now playing into the wind Rovers struggled to gain any territory and whilst doing some good spoiling work at the ruck weren't really threatening in attack.
With 10 minutes to go a loose clearance kick was collected well by Tom Dixon and the ball was moved quickly along the backline, Gav Painter slipping the scoring pass to Andy Cheslin, who dove over in the left corner.
Moss sensibly pinned Rovers back with some probing kicks into the 22 but just as the game seemed over Rovers showed for the first time what they could do with ball in hand. A break started from almost on their own line eventually saw Mark Shires jink past a couple of defenders and go in for a well worked try. With 42 minutes on the watch Sainty's successful conversion proved to be the last action of the match and finally started the promotion party.
That party will probably last for some time yet and it might be a while before the dust settles and focus turns to next season and North 1. When it does though a quick glance through the team names tells you a stern challenge awaits but for now enjoy the celebrations and the title – West Hartlepool – North Two East Champions 2007-2008!
West: Painter, Thorn (C Cheslin), Howe, Hodgson, A Cheslin, Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Robinson (Norris), T Dixon, Davies, D Boatman, J Boatman, Rudd.
Tries: Thorn 2, T Dixon, A Cheslin
Con: Moss
Sin-bin: Rudd, D Boatman
Rovers: Shires, Sainty, B Foreman, P Hall, Lilley, G Foreman, Arnell (Rose), Tucker, Cushlow, Wise, Smith, Wallis, S Hall, Kirton, Grazier (Taylor).
Tries: Sainty, Shires
Cons: Sainty 2
Pen: Sainty
Sin-bin: Wallis, Kirton
Referee: John Meredith [Durham Society]
Related Links:
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Author: Jack Sparrow
Date: 21-04-08 12:41
Congratulations on your Promotion and Championship.
It has been a lot of hard work over the years and I'm glad things are finally turning around for you.
Obviously you will need to strengthen your side but hopefully you have learned from the painful lessons of the past and the strengthening won't be at the detriment of the players who got you the deserved promotion and the young talent that is coming through.
Well done and good luck for next season
Cap'n Jack
"Once Rugby players have succeeded in getting their boots on the right feet, the mental challenge of the game is largely over."
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