League Finale

By Dave Picken - April 4 2024
League Finale
Back in September ..
The Firsts finish their league season  with a few beers in the Lake District but not before they have a role to play in  the Regional 2 North relegation dogfight ...

Keswick are the hosts and they are in a last day shoot-out with Stockton to see who joins Cockermouth at Level 7 next season. All still depending on how the RFU adjusts the leagues following the demise of Jersey Reds. League Table here.

Regardless, the gap between the two sides is just three points with the Cumbrians having the advantage. They will go into the game with West knowing that any kind of win will guarantee safety  and they're assembling a host of former players for lunch before the game, no doubt hoping to crank up the atmosphere. It's also the last league game in the old clubhouse at Davidson Park as work is due to start in May on a new clubhouse..

Stockton are also at home. They will take on Morpeth who have got themselves out of danger by making the most of home advantage.  Stockton must win and hope that West can do them a favour.

West Coaches Northern

West travel with no pressing need for points,  but the coaches certainly have the desire to finish as high up the league as possible in the first season after promotion. A win,  and a defeat for Aspatria against Boro,  would mean a highly creditable fifth place finish. A defeat could mean that both Consett and Morpeth might overtake their side.

There will also be an eye on Storm Kathleen which is due to hit the west of the country with winds peaking on Saturday afternoon.

West will head into the gale with very few changes from the side which ran second placed Northern so close last time out - coming away with two bonus points in the 31-26 defeat.

Jake Linighan continues to have work commitments so it's an unchanged second row. Cockermouth's inability to travel two weeks ago means that Ollie Webster will now be the only player to start every league game this season - he wouldn't have played against Cockermouth because of a mild concussion. Big Ollie will hunker down with Will Corbett,  while Liam Pennick and Aidan Jackson-Smith are back in the front row after their winter sports jaunts.

The back-row is unchanged as are the backs, which means that Max Tennant, who has been nursing a shoulder injury, will again be on the bench. One side issue is the shoot-out for top try scorer with both Ryan Painter and Lewis Scott currently on nine tries each.

Tom Robertson came on an at hooker with great effect at Northern. He returned  after missing almost two years following a shoulder operation, and has the ability to play in any position in the forwards. Jack Angus providing more specialist front row cover.

As it's the last game the players have nominated a "wrestler" fancy dress theme for a few drinks in Keswick. That will make a change from kagouls in the local hostelries.

Firsts @ Keswick  Kick off 3.00

15 Sam Knight
14 Lewis Scott
13 Will Hilditch
12 Ollie Connolly
11 Jacob Wood
10 Ryan Painter (capt)
9 Matt Siddle
1 Liam Pennick
2 Aidan Jackson-Smith
3 Adam Hutchinson
4 Ollie Webster
5 Will Corbett
6  Connor McLurg
7  Isaac Robinson
8 Chris Atkins
   
16 Jack Angus
17 Tom Robertson
18 Max Tennant

 

 

 

 

 

 
League Finale
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2024 09:47


Re: League Finale
Posted by: Parental Unit (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2024 11:14

Enjoy yourselves boys it’s been an enjoyable season with loads of promise for the future.
Let’s end with a win.

Re: League Finale
Posted by: Foot Up (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2024 15:53

As predicted it's wet and windy in Keswick,rain has just stopped.

Chatting to the locals and couple of events planned for the weekend have peen postponed due to the high winds forecast for Saturday.

Safe travels tomorrow.

Re: League Finale
Posted by: Dave Picken (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2024 10:55

Game is on in case anyone is wondering

Re: League Finale
Posted by: HL Lewis (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2024 12:32

Good luck fellas from the clubhouse.

Keith Baggs and Ken Williams thought we were playing Kendal!

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