The back-row put in a typically tenacious performance, scoring two tries and if this does prove to be his last game in a West shirt then he certainly rounded off a fine career in style.

An already injury ravaged back division was forced into a further late change with 17-year old CeeJay Beales coming in at full-back in place of Darren Thomas who was injured in the Pyman Cup with Matt Tyers a late call up to make his first team debut from the bench. In the forwards Adam Coates couldn’t shake off his injury from last weekend so missed his first game of the season with Jack Angus stepping in. darre

Northern full-back Donal Collins had the first chance to open the scoring with a penalty attempt from well inside his own half but a decent effort was just short and wide.

Boatman’s first score came after 18 minutes and was a product of a rolling maul, an attacking weapon which brought us considerable joy all afternoon. Stu Waites set up the position with a great break resulting in a penalty which he kicked to the corner. From the resulting line-out the maul was set up well and drove easily over the line. Waites then stepped up to nail the difficult conversion.

Northern levelled with a try from Alex Clark on 25 minutes, the outside centre cutting a good line as the ball was moved wide, breaking a tackle a rounding the last defender to touch down under the posts. Collins’ conversion tied the scores at 7.

A run of penalties against Northern resulted in flanker Phil Ludford being shown a yellow card and moments later Sam Miller crashed over for our second try, picking up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and powering through the would be tackler. Waites again added the conversion.

With three minutes left in the half another rolling maul advanced from just over half-way all the way to deep inside the 22 and when it was finally pulled down referee Andrew Scott headed under the posts to award a penalty try. There was just enough time remaining for Collins to pull back a penalty for the visitors leaving the half-time score 21-10.

Just as it had in the first half the rolling maul was on the move again minutes into the second period and once more it was Jonny Boatman at the bottom of the pile, emerging for his second try of the game.

Hooker Jon Coffey pulled one back for Northern on 50 minutes as he burst through a couple of tackles and showed great strength to fight his way to the line. But Peter Youll added his name to the scoresheet just four minutes later when pressure on the right left the visiting defence stretched and when the ball was moved along the back line, Youll slid through untouched to score under the posts.  Waites’ simple conversion completed the afternoon’s scoring.

A five-point home win nicely rounded off a successful season at Brinkburn, one which, as the programme notes indicated, we would have more than settled for at the outset. A third place finish is a good return for a relatively young squad and as they continue to gain experience results, particularly away from home, will surely continue to improve.

West: CeeJay Beales, Scott Butcher, Colin Cheslin, Peter Youll, Kyle Jamieson, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins, Jack Angus, Dan Boatman, Owen Bennett, Alex Barker, Jon Boatman, Sam Miller.
Reps: Andrew Dixon, Matt Tyers, Michael Hogan.

Tries: J Boatman 2, Miller, Penalty, Youll
Cons: Waites 4
YC: C Cheslin

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

Tries: Clark, Coffey
Cons: Collins 2
Pen: Collins
YC: Ludford

Referee: Andrew Scott [North Yorkshire]