The conditions at Brinkurn didn’t help but despite periods of territorial pressure we couldn’t string enough phases together to really test the Brid defence and failed to convert spells in the 22 into points. Conversely the visitors took their chances and pulled away in the second half as we conceded kickable penalties and full-back Steve Mellonby took advantage.
We started with the strong wind at our backs and were immediately into the 22 where Bridlington conceded a number of penalties, eventually seeing hooker Marek Juzl sent to the sin-bin for an early 10 minute breather. The wind ruled out any shots at goal and made the lineout a lottery so we struggled to convert any of the pressure into points. Gavin Painter eventually opted for the sticks from a 13th minute penalty but his attempt slid wide.
Ironically we got the opening score off the back of Bridlington’s first period of attacking pressure. Scott Butcher won our turnover inside our own 22 and Ryan Painter put boot to ball to clear the danger. Joe Willis set off in pursuit and neatly hacked the ball through before a defender could dive on it just short of the line and was able to touch down ahead of the chasing cover. Painter added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Bridlington drew level five minutes later with skipper Jamie Martin crashing over from a quick tap penalty in-front of the posts, the try awarded despite some protest about whether a shot at goal had already been requested before the tap was taken. Nevertheless, Mellonby added the extras to tie the game but Painter put us back in front with a penalty after a high tackle.
We couldn’t hold on to the lead until half-time though as four minutes into stoppage time Bridlington crashed over for their second try, after more sustained pressure. Mellonby missed the kick to leave the score 10-12 as the teams changed round.
In a game littered with penalties both ways we gave Mellonby too many easy shots in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half and he obliged each time, stretching the lead out to 11 points. We fought to get back into the game but, forced to keep the ball in hand playing into the wind, handling errors and loose passing proved costly every time we made inroads into the visiting defensive line.
The crucial moments came with five minutes to play after we had spent a good 10 minutes attacking inside the 22 but were unable to find the scoring play. Again we won a string of penalties but couldn't generate much momentum from the rolling mauls after kicking to the corner.
Andy Turner went over (above) but the referee ruled the ball had been held up after a mass of Bridlington bodies dived on top.
Then appeals for a deliberate knock-on when we looked like scoring in the right corner were waved away and in a reversal of fortunes from the first half it was Bridlington’s turn to win the ball and go the length of the field with Mellonby the scorer condemning us to defeat.
A tough scoreline for the West players to take as the gap between the sides was clearly not that great but despite plenty of effort the accuracy just wasn’t there and we remain in the bottom three desperately needing to string some form together before the gap to safety opens up further.
West: Siddle, Hilditch, Youll, G Painter, Willis, Southern, R Painter, Key, Rollins, Coates, Linighan, Bunter, Baggs, Butcher, Turner.
Reps: Foulds, Rafferty, Mallinson
Try: Willis
Con: G Painter
Pen: G Painter
YC: Coates, R Painter
Bridlington: Mellonby, Nugent, Girking, Martin, Stevens, L Thundercliffe, Floyd, Nepia, Juzl, J Thundercliffe, Waines, Roberts, Sanderson, Heely, Thompson.
Reps: Young, Cappleman, Robinson
Referee: Matt Dunn [Durham Society]