Middlesbrough 10 West 29

By Dave Picken - August 21 2016
Middlesbrough 10 West 29
There will be much harder games to come but pre-season continues to go well with the Stags also recording a 25-5 win at Houghton ..

Sam Miller (pictured) scored a hat- trick with Liam Checksfield crossing twice as a young West pack dominated the set-piece.

Both clubs were missing players to holidays with Danny Boatman, Aaron and Eldon Myers, Peter Youll and Scott Butcher notable absentees for West - not to mention long term injury victim Stu Waites who is doing a fine job on the touchline as backs coach.

A notable feature of this pre-season is the way the new Colts have integrated into the senior set-up. Jake Linighan completed a full 80 minutes in the second row - partnering a dynamic Chris Atkins in the first half and a technically efficient John Bunter in the second.

Lee Maddison turned in another mercurial performance, with Connor McLurg on the other flank putting in a good hard shift standing in for skipper Boatman.

The pack began the afternoon shunting Boro backwards at a rate of knots from their own 22 somehow managing to be penalised as they forged for the line. That wasn't a one-off it happened several times - much to the frustration of skipper Ryan Painter.

He and brother Gavin had a great ride behind the pack, and their class showed on a number of occasions with Miller the benficiary of superbly timed passes, and Checksfield the scorer after intelligent passes and kicks over the top from Gavin.

Like Rochdale the week before Boro rarely threatened. As a result our defence was rarely given the test that will surely come next week in the Cup against City and the following week against relegated Huddersfield YMCA.

The home side did manage to pull one try back, when Painter G. was having a rest, with Checksfield taking over in the position he occupied for most of his years in the Minis and Juniors.

His first action was to send out a pass to Paul Moss which was intercepted by the home full back who sprinted 50 metres to go in under the posts. It didn't bother the 17 year old who was quick to claim "two tries and an assist" after the game. With the Painter brothers both unavailable next week he may get another chance to show his stand-off skills.

The youngsters also shone in the game at Houghton with Adam Brown a try-scorer in a side led by Rob Thorn. Brownie is a hooker but, like Jordan Foulds, can't play in the front row until he is 18, but these lads are getting great introductions to senior rugby in the back rows.  

 

 

 
Middlesbrough 10 West 29
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 21/08/2016 11:14


Re: Middlesbrough 10 West 29
Posted by: Carlo03 (IP Logged)
Date: 21/08/2016 12:20

Our score was actually 29-5 and thoroughly deserved win. Matty siddle and drinky controlled the game very well at 9 and 10 and top efforts from browny and Jordan around the park and in the set piece against a very large and experienced pack. Johnny Hunter had a solid game at tight head with two massive hits in open play. Also a welcome return for jassy and Henry after a 2/3 season absence. Rob thorn and butch made yard after yard in the centres and on a drier day the score line would have been even greater. Matty tyres also made a good impression with some excellent defence on his first run out of the season. All in all a very good team performance with excellent defence the key, which Houghton didn't have a plan be to overcome. Good start. Carlo

Re: Middlesbrough 10 West 29
Posted by: West Park Allotment (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2016 11:07

Pleased to see our teams getting off to decent starts. Best thing is the fact that youngb lads are being given a chance to ease their way into men's rugby and that bodes very well for the club.
Looking forward to seeing the lads for the first time on Saturday.

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