Under 17s Beat Gosforth
By Jon Dewhirst - October 11 2004
With a break in the Yorkshire League program, West entertained Northumberland champions Gosforth, one of only two sides to defeat them last season, in a tight encounter at Brinkburn.
With Chris Lambert, Jon Norris and Arron Myers still carrying injuries, and winger Luke Austin unavailable, an experimental West line-up saw Michael Young, Gavin Robinson, Peter Dewhirst and Stephen Short exchange positions in the backs, and Liam Wager start on the wing.
Against the wind West again started slowly, and Gosforth dominated the first half, creating some half-chances without ever penetrating an excellent West defence. The Northumbrians were running strongly and with pace, both backs and forwards, but could not clearly threaten the West line, and despite their having the bulk of possession the half ended scoreless.
The cliché “a game of two halves” has rarely been more clearly illustrated. In the second half West seized control and forced Gosforth back. It was now their turn to defend well, and they did do so, but two penalties well converted by Tom Dixon gave West the advantage, and a try from Arron Myers, on for the last quarter, sealed the victory. Dixon converted impressively, and West ended winners 13-0.
Next week sees the return to League action, with a visit to third-placed Middlesbrough.