Northern are fighting to stay in the division and with our league title already confirmed after last week's win over Cleckheaton it was always going to be difficult to predict how the game would go. We saw in that game what can happen when a side has little but pride left to play for and particularly in the second half of this game the home team were the more determined, precise and disciplined side.

We travelled to Gosforth with almost the same team as that which had faced Cleckheaton, only Jon Norris missing from the front-row and Phil Henderson stepping in for Liam Bailey who had to pull out after an injury at work.

Northern started like a side desperately in need of the points and a combination of poor tackling and ill discipline saw them quickly race to a two try lead. Full-back Phil James cut inside the drifting defence for the first after 5 minutes and then flanker Harrison Clark finished from close range in the left corner eight minutes later. James Moffat converted both scores for a 14-0 lead.

We finally got some possession in the Northern half after a series of fly-hacks up-field and when the hosts conceded three successive penalties, kicks to the corner kept the pressure on. Finally, on the half hour, Stephen Stockdale crashed over and Stu Waites' conversion halved the deficit.

A long injury break and numerous other stoppages meant we were still playing 9 minutes into time added on at the end of the first half and with the final play we produced our best move of the game. Moving the ball to the right set Adam Larkin away up the touchline and an exchange of passes with Gav Robinson saw the winger complete a fine try. Another Waites conversion levelled the scores and it appeared that having weathered the early storm we were in a good position to go on and win the game.

What followed was probably the poorest half we have played all season, certainly on the defensive side of the ball. Just as in the first half we conceded two quick tries, hooker John Coffey getting the first 5 minutes in after winger David O'Sullivan had broken four or five weak tackles and former West man Chris Stewart finishing off a move started by Moffat racing through a non-existent defensive line.

Now 26-14 down we were dealt another blow when a promising attacking move was halted by a pop-up pass being intercepted by Alex Clark and the centre racing all of 70 metres for the hosts fifth try.

Frustrations were beginning to boil over and when referee John Ash ruled that Larkin had failed to ground the ball in the right corner fifteen minutes from time it signalled the end of any credible comeback attempt. We continued to make breaks but too little support at the breakdown proved costly time and again as turnovers were lost.

Another interception try 10 minutes from time definitely ended the game as a contest, this time O'Sullivan the finisher, and when Coffey scored his second with the final play it capped off a dismal afternoon for everyone in West colours.

Thankfully for us, seasons are judged over 26 games and not 1 and whilst it would have been nice to go out on a winning note, this game shouldn't take anything away from a superb season and well deserved league championship.
 

West: Waites (Thomas 70), Larkin, Watson (Butcher 20), G Robinson, A Cheslin, G Foreman, A Foreman, Stockdale, A Dixon, Coates (C Robinson 60), Davies, T Dixon, D Boatman, Henderson, Miller.

Tries: Stockdale, Larkin
Cons: Waites 2


Northern: Phil James, Shane Wright, Alex Clark, Chris Robson, David O'Sullivan, James Moffat, Dan McKercher, Sam Wilson, John Coffey, Chris Stewart, Alan Douglas, David Guthrie, Andy Wright, Harrison Clark, Paul Brady.
Reps: Damien Martinez, Tom Crozier, Mike McCleary

Tries: James, H Clark, Coffey 2, Stewart, A Clark, O'Sullivan
Cons: Moffat 6

Referee: John Ash [Northumberland Society]