Northern Preview

By Dave Picken - April 11 2014
Northern Preview
There's a nasty rumour going round the club that the final league game of the season will also be Jonny Boatman's last home game in a West shirt. Unfortunately, it's JB himself who is telling the tale ...

After ten years at the club the dynamic flanker says he's keen to try some other sports next season and so far he's been pretty convincing in his resolution.

There are others who feel that come August the rugby boots at the back of the garage will start calling out, and his teammates certainly don't want to contemplate a season without him.

They were all asked to sign a commemorative book, but declined on the grounds that they can scarcely believe that Jonny won't miss the game and the matchday adrenaline rush come the start of the next season.

It's a door they don't want to close. 

But only Jonny holds the key and, irrespective of whether this is actually his last season, it is now ten years since he first donned a West shirt and that's a decent excuse for celebrating his outstanding contribution to the club.

He was attracted to West from Mowden by Rod MacLure and Keith Lupton and made an immediate impact in season 2004-2005 with his first game being against Horden.

He has gone on to become an automatic name on the teamsheet, a fast hardtackling and creative back row who never takes a back step, and who was one of the players you could rely on to turn up week after week no matter how long the journey.

The bigger the challenge the more it brought out the best in Jonny, and the more exaggerated his famous strut became. Yes Jonny, you do.

He's captained the side, of course, played for the County, suffered a horrible broken ankle at Stockport,and earned more than his fair share of yellow cards - mainly for refusing to take a backward step including when he felt he was right and the ref had made a mistake.

Jonny has also provided us with another legacy in the form of the rest of the family and his brothers who, as well as being accomplished sailors on a national level, have all played for West at various levels with young Dan now captaining the side.

Both will be in the side which takes on Northern at Brinkburn. The sides first met at McCracken Park on the first day of the season when we won 24-6 and, it has to be said, if we had both known then where the season would end we would have been quite happy.

Third place is an excellent place for us to finish - given the fact that we have a young side and are building a squad which has enough strength in depth to be competitive for some seasons to come.

For their part Northern found themselves in the bottom three in the middle of the season, but have taken some decent scalps and are now safe from a relegation battle which will go down to the wire for clubs like Middlesbrough,Morpeth, Driffield  and Alnwick.

We have selected a 19 man squad because Adam Coates admirably wants to be an ever present this season, and therefore wants to give a knock he took last week as much time as possible to clear up. Having sponsored Coatesy's kit I must say I hope he makes it so I get even more value for money.

We are also suffering a lot of injuries in the backs. Luke Mallinson is on crutches, after breaking a bone in his foot at Old Crocs, and he joins Liam Bailey, Andrew Cheslin and Peter Hodgson in the physio queue.

Darren Thomas, someone else who once toyed with retirement, comes in at full back  allowing Colin Cheslin to partner Peter Youll in the centre. Scott Butcher returns on the wing while 17 year old winger CeeJay Beales will almost certainly feature  at some time. His move into senior rugby saw him score an excellent try in midweek for the Stags in the Pyman Cup.

West: Darren Thomas, Kyle Jamieson, Colin Cheslin, Peter Youll, Scott Butcher, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Dan Boatman, Owen Bennett, Alex Barker, Jon Boatman, Sam Miller.

Reps from: Jack Angus, Andrew Dixon, CeeJay Beales, Michael Hogan.

Northern: Donal Collins, David Bloxsom, Alex Clark, Derek White, Harry Clark, Paddy Harper, Sam Thorne, Oliver Holtam, Jon Coffey, Sam Marburg, Barry Blackburn, Phil Ludford, Tom McCullough, Ed Cawthorn, James Ellis (c).

Reps: Sam Wilson, Alan Douglas, Pat Power

Referee: Andrew Scott [N. Yorks]

 

 

 
Northern Preview
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2014 10:27


Re: Northern Preview
Posted by: Supercodhead (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2014 12:11

its not been a good week for West v Rovers relations but I have to express my best wishes to Jon Boatman>>every time you see his name on the West teamsheet you know your back row and your fly half are in for a hard time>>> he has certainly been one of the best players in this area for sometime and you will find him very hard to replace>>>

Re: Northern Preview
Posted by: Parental Unit (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2014 15:27

Thank you SCH for a bit of sanity from across the great divide.
I think Jonny B has been playing his best rugby this seaon for some time and is certainly fit enough to carry on for a number of years yet. If he does go ahead and retire from playing (which I hope he doesn't just yet) I'd like to add my appreciation of his efforts for the club. Tremendous player.

Re: Northern Preview
Posted by: West Park Allotment (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2014 16:40

This is a bolt from the blue. The way Jonny has been playing this season I'd assumed he would be around for many years yet.
Hopefully he'll miss the game enough over the summer to make a "comeback" next season.
Good luck to Beales tomorrow. I've heard some good reports about him and some of his teammates and looking forward to seeing them all in action in the future.

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