Every player involved in this cup campaign can be extremely proud of the achievement and is the best possible preparation for joining the Teesside league next season. Unfancied before the tournament the West second string have certainly showed they are not to be underestimated. Under the watchful eye of Gary Miller and Sammy Hutton the team has grown in confidence and this was clear to see especially in the way they closed the game out.

The Stags started well and went on to dominate much of the first half, starving Horden of ball. Paul Moss made an early break from centre and looked to be in but for good tackle from Horden full-back Jones. The colliery men made a rare visit to the West 22 giving Jones a shot at goal on 12 minutes but it went well wide.

Moss opened the scoring with a well struck penalty on 20 minutes but Jones cancelled it out seven minutes later. The Stags were spreading the ball as often as possible and some good running and excellent support play looked to set Martin Boatman in for the opening try. But once again a great last ditch tackle forced him out and the scores stayed level. On the stroke of half time Moss gave his side a well deserved lead with another penalty.

Horden needed to take the initiative in the second half but could be reasonably happy at being only 3 points in arrears after being on the back foot for most of the opening period. However the half did not start well for them when after only two minutes Moss added his third penalty to stretch the lead to 6 points.

Horden were not going to lie down and came fighting back. They spent the majority of the next 20 minutes inside opposition territory but, as West had in the first half, lacked the finishing touches. Moss went wide with a penalty on 55 minutes but when Will Richardson went to the sin-bin five minutes later, Horden exerted more pressure, looking for the key score. Turnovers proved costly though and the boots of Moss and Cheslin cleared well.

With the West fans getting used to tight finishes they could appreciate a master-class in how to close the game out. The Stags moved to ball to 5 meters out from the Horden line and a series of scrums saw the time tick away. Carl Miller and Chris Martin both got over the line in the closing stages but twice Horden managed to get hands under the ball.

Chris Wray's final whistle brought celebrations on and off the field, bringing down the curtain on the Stags season in the perfect way. With the Under 17’s successes and now the Pyman Cup champions at Brinkburn some of the first team might need to be looking over their shoulders.


West: M Boatman, Hare, Wallis, Moss, Barff, Martin, C Cheslin, Cholmondeley, Butler (Geritz), Phillips, D Boatman, Clayton (Oliver), Richardson, Edwards (c), Miller

Pens: Moss 3
Sinbin: Richardson

Horden: Jones, Ryan, Turnbull, Hartley, Temple, Hudson, Appleton, Johnson, Dawson, Hooloway, Harrop, Harrison, Heckles, Watson, Hall (c)

Pen: Jones
Referee: Chris Wray (Durham Society)