Match report: Westoe 37 Preston Grasshoppers 6
IN FORM ... Charlie Raynor scores a try against Preston.
A FIRST-half blitz sent Westoe firing into second in the table after a thumping 37-6 win over Preston Grasshoppers at Wood Terrace.
Two tries from both hooker Richie Thirkell and fly-half Charlie Rayner, as well as scores from centre Mark Bedworth and replacement Rob Adair, gave the Shieldsmen the victory.
By half-time they were already 27-0 up and cruising past a team who had been in form up to their visit to Wood Terrace.
Westoe captain Gareth Nesbit felt his side showed a great amount of application and performed well as a team.
“I think we were good today and played the game as it should be,” he said.
“We applied ourselves very well and had the bonus point wrapped up by half-time.
“After doing so well and getting four tries in the first half, we also wanted to win the second half and we did that.
“I don’t think there were any stand-out performers today, but to a man we did our jobs and that is always a recipe for success.”
The game was played in testing conditions, with a strong, cold wind blowing right across the pitch, and the home side coped far better with the conditions.
It took less than 10 minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Bedworth faked a pass to his left only to burst through the Preston line and go over under the posts.
On 18 minutes, Thirkell got his first of the afternoon after the Westoe forwards – who were superior all day – drove the Grasshoppers back with ruck after ruck.
Bedworth kicked a penalty on 30 minutes and four minutes later Rayner got his first try in a similar manner to Bedworth’s.
The bonus point was in the bag right on the stroke of half-time when Thirkell again bundled over after persistent rucking.
Two early David Holroyd penalties in the second half gave the Lancashire side a glimmer of hope, but Westoe defended doggedly and were eventually rewarded for their effort.
Adair used his pace well to go over in the corner with two minutes to go.
A minute later, Rayner intercepted a Preston pass and ran in to wrap it up for the high-flying Shieldsmen.
Preston coach Dave Baldwin was quick to praise the home side.
“Of course we are disappointed to lose, especially as it ends our good run of form,” he said.
“We expected to do quite well up here today, but it wasn’t the case.
“The conditions weren’t very friendly and Westoe adapted to them better.
“They deserved their win as they were the better team in both halves.”
Westoe: Simon O’Farrel, Lewis Johnston, James Clark, Mark Bedworth, Tom Banks, Charlie Rayner, Peter Phelan; Gareth Nesbit, Richie Thirkell, Haydn Richards, John Younghusband, Ian Murray, Rory Duff, Ben Frankland, Ollie Stedman. Replacements: Fraser Kirkley, Graham Smith, Rob Adair, Michael Booth, Joe Maw.
Grasshoppers: Sean Taylor, Matthew Hughes, Philip Barnes, John Ward, Matt Gargett, Graham Holroyd, Mark Edwards; Chris Gale, Martindale Allen, Richard Morton, Alexander Austin, Wayne Steel, Conor Murphy, Kilian Wallace, Dominic Moon. Replacements: Phillip Mills, Andrew Irwing, William Keenan, Matt Charters, Antony Elliott.
Referee: Brendan Fitzmaurice.
Attendance: 158
Star Man: Richie Thirkell (Westoe)
Twitter: @GavSpens6
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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