West kicked off into a stiff breeze and sun in their eyes.  It was 15 minutes in before sustained West pressure provided dividends.  Some great carrying play from the forwards, Barker, Pennick, Adamson, Blades and Liston set up Glyn Pickering who dived over the whitewash.  This was Glyn’s first game back this season after suffering a knee injury. Zac adding the extras with a great conversion into the wind 7-0. 

Ten minutes later and West touched down again.  The Horden fly half got sin binned which West took advantage of -  Barker picking and going from the base of the scrum, passed to Zac who popped the ball to Tennant on a great line to dot down unchallenged under the sticks.  Zac adding the conversion 14-0

 West pressured again.  However, the ball was knocked on and Horden fly hacked through.  The Horden 13 pulled down Baggs challenging for the ball and jumped up like a footballer to claim it was himself who had been obstructed. This un-sportsman like conduct resulted in Baggs sitting out the next 10 minutes on the side-line with a yellow card. These 10 minutes were spent constantly shaking his head in dismay and disgust.

 It was now Horden’s turn to take advantage of the extra player with a barrage of continued pressure in the West 22.  However,  the defence held strong and bundled Horden into touch on the West 5m.  West’s lineout was working well with good arrows by Adamson and salmon-like leaping from Wray. West opted to run from deep inside their own 22 and with some great interplay using both forwards and backs, they soon made their way up the opponents 22.  Barker then picked and sniped blind.  A great 20m run brushing off defenders, left him just to flop over the line.  However, the unselfish, irrational Barker decided to give out a belated Christmas Present of a pass to the supporting Wray, who knocked on!!

 Although a man down, West continued to play some great attacking rugby with both forwards & backs hungry to be involved and get their hand on the ball.  This was proving fruitful and it was Pennick who crossed the whitewash next carrying most of Horden’s pack on his back as he did so.  Zac converting 21-0

 Minutes later saw Loui Adamson came off with what appeared to be a little finger dislocation.  This meant it was a slightly early substitution for Godders who was that keen, he ran onto the pitch in just his Under Armour.

 With only a few minutes of the first half left Horden were on the attack and got a well-rewarded try 21-7

 From the re-start Horden collected and kicked downfield with the wind.  This was collected by Cox who offloaded to Painter for a trundle.  A couple of forward carries by Allison, Pickering & Blades then put Barker away down the far touch line.  Sensing he was going to be tackled into touch, knocked out a sublime infield kick for the chasing Painter to run on to.  All Painter had to do was use his football skills (like his younger Kidda) to dribble it over the line for a certain try.  However, he attempted the skilful on the move pickup which resulted in a knock on.  This possibly could have been try of the season. 

 In the dying seconds of the first half, Horden had some unfinished business.  West’s defensive line was at ones and two’s and with some good footwork and tag like defence, saw Horden cross the line at half time 21-14. 

West rung the changes at half time in order to get the finishers on the paddock. Sam Knight came on for only his second senior appearance along with Matty Hamstring Tyers, Quinny, Cam Mould, Crazy Craig, Ross Wood and recent signing Skinner. 

Within 2 minutes of kick-off Skinner's game came to an abrupt end with a bad back.  This must have been the shortest debut in West history and didn’t take any stick from the side line whatsoever!!  Skinner was replaced with the evergreen Larkin who immediately reset his GPS and made his way swiftly to the scrum.

 A few minutes later West were on the attack again.  Barbarian style interplay from the full team, West recycled quickly and with Parker & Southern orchestrating the back line from 10 put away Todd.  Todd appeared to still have lots to do.  A shake of the hips and a raise of his arm to point to the corner while ball in hand bemused the Horden defence and they parted like Moses and the Red Sea for him to dot down under the posts.  Zac adding the extras. 28-14

 West’s confidence was in abundance and it was Larkin at it next. Great footwork to evade the Horden’s defence, drew the last man and pass to the tracking Painter to cross the line. Unconverted 33-14. 

Minutes later a nice silky break by Southern popped to Matty Tyers who hit a line off his shoulder to run in unchallenged under the posts.  Zac Converting 40-14. 

Southern certainly had his pecker up and was starting to find lots of gaps.  His break created the next opportunity for Mould.  Unfortunately the simple bread basket pass was knocked on over the whitewash.  From the resulting 5yd scrum Horden cleared their lines but didn’t find touch.  Instead the ball found the hands of Knight on the 10 yard line.  The leggy Knight went on a mesmeric run, side stepping most of the Horden team before touching down for his first senior try. Zac converting again 47-14.

West made a few more interchanges for the last 10 minutes. Pennick for Barker at 8, Adamson (bit of tape to the deformed pinky) back on for Godfrey, Todd off, Zac to 12 & Baggs to 10. 

A Horden scrum in their own half saw Quinn hound the 9 and not for the first time. (believe it or not Quinn was making tackles at the base of the scrum and caused many an issue) This caused the ball to be lost & Quinn to pick up.  He passed to Cox on the blind who came infield, passed to Larkin, Larkin to Pennick in support for another West try.  Zac converting 54-14

 

Minutes to go, another Quinn scrum disruption resulted in a West turnover in midfield.  Quinn fed Blades on the change of direction who drew a couple of defenders before passing to Crazy in the backline who threw an awful pass to Adamson.  Adamson calmly collected it with one hand and strolled over the whitewash.  The hot footed confident Southern adding the honours again only missing one kick all day. 

 

Special mention to Horden for the game and not letting up until the final whistle had blown.  Obviously not the result you wanted and a hard afternoon at the office but a game of Rugby took place which is the priority.  Good luck for the rest of the Season lads.

 

Coach's

Summary 

An overall great team performance both in defence and attack with lots of tries still left out there.  Camaraderie was in abundance and everyone appeared to enjoy the expansive running rugby game that we train towards.  It makes a huge difference when lots of players make themselves available and are the building blocks to a sustainable and successful 2^nd team and Rugby Club.

 Let’s get these numbers out every week and enjoy your Saturday afternoon playing Rugby with your mates and chewing the fat after the game with a few sociable beverages.

 

MOTM -  A quiet individual who just gets on with his graft both in the scrums, tight & loose. Had many a strong trundle, organised well in open play and even fancied himself as a fly half from time to time. This week’s MOTM goes to Tim Blades👍💪

Dick of the day - This goes to an unselfish but foolish forward, who instead of flopping over the try line decided to make a pass over the whitewash.  Dear me, Alex Barker.

Showers – Cold Again!!

Going - Good to Firm & drying

Food – Burger & Chips (generous with the chips)