Westoe 34 West 24

By Dave Picken - April 20 2014
Westoe 34 West 24
Westoe's powerful backs got them into the County Cup final against Billingham but we have lots of reasons to be optimistic for our chances next season.

Colin Cheslin became the latest back to succumb to injury when he pulled his hamstring in the warm up on the 3G pitch.

It meant our back three of Matt Tyers - making his first start - and 17 year olds CeeJay Beales and Kyle Jamieson had less than ten first team games between them as they faced a home side which had scored 90 points in the last home league game.

It also left us without any backs cover on the bench.

The first score of the game came on eight minutes after Stu Waites had been just wide with a 30 metre penalty.

Powerful Westoe player coach Scott Powell broke from a maul to touchdown with West defenders claiming that his path had been cleared by a deliberate obstruction. However, referee Charl Erasmus dismissed the protests.

Westoe scrum half Mathew Mellish added the conversion and then a penalty before Stu Waites put us on the score sheet.

He struck three penalties in succession including one from five metres inside his own half.

We then lost flanker Alex Barker to the bin following an offside offence, and Westoe capitalised on the extra space with lanky fly half Jordan Carey selling a dummy to go in under the posts.

Waites added another penalty before the break and we turned round to face the wind and the slope just five points behind.

The forwards took up the challenge and the majority of the second half play was in the home half.

But when Westoe did attack their experienced backs were dangerous and they increased their lead on 50 minutes. A well worked move saw right winger Jack Hawke go in at the corner with Mellish adding an excellent conversion from the touchline.

We continued to force the play, and with tempers becoming increasingly frayed  Ryan Painter and the Westoe full back were both sin-binned after a fracas when the visitors tried to take a quick penalty in the home 22.

Painter had over zealously gone in pursuit of the ball and derserved his card,  but one wonders how many punches you have to put in before a yellow card becomes a red. 

Four minutes later Westoe were down to 13 men when the influential No 8 Powell was also sin binned, and we took the opportunity to get our first try of the afternoon.

Dan Boatman was the player to emerge with the ball after the West pack had driven their opponents back over the line.

Once again we were again just seven points behind and looked likely to get the next score. However, the Westoe backs once again proved a force to be reckoned with.

This time left winger Chris Laycock went in at the other corner. Mellish once again managing a very difficult kick.

With ten minutes left we needed two scores to get on equal terms, and we got one of them through replacement Jay Corbett who forced his way over after some ferocious play on the home line.

The West pack had driven for the line only to see the ball turned over. But, before Westoe could clear, Corbett and centre Peter Youll were able to wrestle it back.

Waites once again put us just one score behind only for us to lose replacement hooker Andrew Dixon to the bin as the pressure mounted on both sides.

The home side seized their opportunity and the ultra-reliable Mellish added the final score of the game with a long range penalty.

Westoe now take on Billingham on the final.

West: CeeJay Beales, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Butcher, Peter Youll, Matt Tyers, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins [Andrew Dixon 72], Adam Coates, Owen Bennett [captain], Dan Boatman, Alex Barker [Jay Corbett 65], Jon Boatman, Sam Miller. Reps not used: Alex Johnson, Joe Myers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Westoe 34 West 24
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 20/04/2014 11:45


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