Battle of the Basement Boys

By Simon Carew - April 5 2002
Battle of the Basement Boys
Superb Season
Michael Cook and Chocky Davies return to the West pack as we travel for our final away league game determined to put our worst performance behind us. We should have beaten Sandal at home and it would be nice to put that one right as we both head off for life in North Division One.

Stuart Bennett will be missing because of his three month ban but Dan Wright will make an able deputy. He'll be flanked by the excellent Tim Sawyer and Henry Tones who has come on leaps and bounds this season.

Michael Cook is back from injury in the front row. He's another youngster who has had an excellent season getting on with his work in a superbly efficient way.

Carlo Robinson was one of the few players to have a good game in the win at Consett, but he'll have to be content with a place on the bench with Brett Cullinane back at hooker with Gez Geritz keeping his place, and Mark Cholmondeley also on the bench.

Despite those long term injuries to centres Thompson and Milne we will be fielding a back division which is an interesting mix of experience and youth. Darren Thomas is playing out of his skin at scrum half and he'll have Stabs and Connolly outside him to keep him right. Tommy Barff has added strength to one wing while Elom Lassey showed at Consett how dangerous he can be after a quiet debut at home to Mowden. Gareth Kerr is itching for another try or two while Phil Cuff returns at full back.

The lads will be having their end of season jolly in Wakefield tommorrow night. Let's hope they have a rare away victory to celebrate - they deserve it after another long hard season keeping the club going.

West: Phil Cuff, Tommy Barff, Gareth Kerr, Jamie Connolly [capt], Elom Lassey, John Stabler, Darren Thomas, Michael Geritz, Brett Cullinane, Michael Cook, Chris Webb, Andrew Davies, Tim Sawyer, Henry Tones, Dan Wright.

Reps: Paul Rudd, Mark Cholmondeley, Mark Baggs, Carl Robinson.