As with most of the derbies of recent times this was far from an entertaining game, with neither try-line threatened very often and 32 (yes thirty two!) penalties contributing to a stop-start affair. Neither team could really say they dominated possession or territory with shots at goal the deciding factor in the end.
We were dogged by poor handling in the backs, spurning a massive overlap in the first half when a try looked on and wasting numerous attacking opportunities with miscued passes and drops. As in the Stockport game discipline was a problem and while some decisions may have been harsh we need to cut out the unnecessary, silly offences which are proving costly.
Rovers lost Brian Foreman to an early leg injury and chose to replace him with former West, now Mowden Park full-back Gavin Painter, joining the list of players to play on both sides of a Boxing Day derby (although not officially as a Rover). Chris Sainty had put Rovers 3-0 up on 15 minutes but 5 minutes later, with our first real attack, we took the lead. Gareth Foreman's clearance was charged down and several phases after the resulting line-out, Paul Williamson wriggled through a gap to score. Paul Moss added the conversion.
A late tackle decision allowed Sainty to cut the lead by 3 with 24 minutes gone but Moss responded with a shot of his own 15 minutes later.
Early in the second half another Sainty shot at goal dropped short but almost resulted in a try for Stewart Grazier after Phil Hall disrupted the ball as Tim Sawyer collected. Rob Thorn replaced a limping Iain Dixon before Sainty struck the post with another penalty attempt but the centre did cut the lead to a point with a successful shot with an hour gone.
Once again Moss responded 5 minutes later but failed to stretch the lead further with a 40 metre attempt moments later. With two Rovers yellow carded by referee Paul Fincken they had their best spell of the match and it was during that period, with an hour gone, that the crucial score came. A penalty was awarded inside the 22 and Gareth Foreman took his chance, taking the quick tap and skipping past defenders to score to the left of the posts although Sainty missed the conversion.
It was a hammer blow for and we didn't recover. When Sainty stetched the lead with another shot at goal on 76 minutes it looked a long way back although, in the closing stages another last gasp derby victory looked possible. We earned a number of penalties in the Rovers half and deep into injury time opted for a scrum under the posts, but as the ball was moved wide the pass to Thorn was behind him and knocked forward, summing up the afternoon perfectly.
On the positive side for West Aaron Myers looked back to his best, covering just about every blade of grass, which will give plenty of selection options in the back row with Dominic Morrison and Paul Vinnicombe available again in the New Year.
West: I Dixon (R Thorn), A Cheslin, Edwards (Howe), Hodgson, C Cheslin, Moss, Williamson, Carr, A Dixon, Stewart (Norris) (Coates), Robinson, T Dixon, D Boatman, Myers, Sawyer (Miller).
Try: Williamson
Con: Moss
Pens: Moss 2
Sin-bin: Sawyer
Rovers: B Foreman (Painter), Railton, Sainty, P Hall, B Cushlow, G Foreman, A Foreman, Pinchen (Langston), J Cushlow, Wise (Tucker), Power (Jukes), Cook, S Hall, Taylor (Smith), Grazier.
Try: G Foreman
Pens: Sainty 4
Sin-bin: P Hall, Jukes
Referee: Paul Fincken [Durham Society]
Related Links:
Battle of the Brothers
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Author: MikeyBoy
Date: 26-12-08 23:20
I have no idea who the better team was today because we never got to see either team play - it was the poorest refereeing display I've seen for a long time (too many picky decisions, the cards were too late in the game to stamp out the offences he was hot on, and very inconsistant [affecting both teams]). I'm not saying west would have won if the ref had been any different, but he ruined the game. ( I know this will generate a load of comments such as "you can't have a game without a ref" etc, but any casual rugby fans at the match are unlikely to come back any time soon when there's so little action as there was today due to the constant whistle)
Neither team had much to show in attack. The Foreman's are always dangerous from the quick tap penalty. Both backlines were poor.
Congratulations to rovers for kicking more penalties than we did, but of course their true fans wont really be counting this result as they fielded a ringer:-D
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Author: whocares
Date: 27-12-08 03:36
tbh. the boxing day match is to have fun. and also. to remember who has become so injured playing our game that they cannot play again and to the others who have died for the game.
who cares who won and lost one boxing day. we should remember that
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Author: whocares
Date: 27-12-08 03:44
and if it wasn't a boxing day match i do apologise
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Author: mossy`s dad
Date: 27-12-08 17:52
"Congratulations to rovers for kicking more penalties than we did" , with a ratio of about 5 to 1 what do you expect ????
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Author: Robok
Date: 27-12-08 22:59
what was the penalty count for both sides? west cudve won it if theyd kicked their last 2 penalties rather than going for touch
Hartlepool Rovers 3rds
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Author: MikeyBoy
Date: 28-12-08 17:53
it was in the mail but can't remember exactly, rovers had roughly double the amount west had.
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