Westoe fightback sees off the Lions
THIS was a stunning win clawed from the jaws of defeat.
If Westoe have frustratingly blown hot and cold all season, in this memorable match they were simply schizophrenic.
The Lions roared into action from the start, and after just 24 minutes they were four converted tries ahead as strong-running and sure-handed attacks splintered a brittle defence which seemed incapable of making a telling tackle.
In the eighth minute right winger Joseph Marston touched down after the ball had spun across the backs, and on the quarter-hour centre Matthew Goode simply bundled his way through an inept rearguard.
Soon after left winger Thomas Harris was too fast to be caught, and then flanker Liam Munro, with the nimbleness of a back, carved his way though to seal an irresistible quick-passing attack launched from a midfield scrum.
So one-sided was it at this point that solemn home supporters feared total eclipse and abject humiliation. But it was not to be, and the tables were dramatically turned.
Westoe gradually asserted themselves, and after centre James Clark had been tackled into touch within an arm's reach of scoring, a powerful scrum ended with combative flanker Aaron Myers bursting over.
The revival continued with Gareth Nesbit's men now in the ascendancy, and shortly before half-time a sequence of open play forays fed by some super passing from fly-half Charlie Rayner ended with 18-year-old full-back Matthew Mellish darting over for his first try in his third league outing.
So the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen had fought back commendably, but it is unlikely that anyone expected what was to come after the interval.
With the advantage of a breeze blowing down the Wood Terrace slope, Westoe pinned Rugby back in their 22, and in the 54th minute the ball was spun from a scrum to nimble centre Dan Rayson, who darted over to give Rayner a routine conversion.
Then, on the hour, the floodgates opened with three tries in five minutes as the pack, which throughout had held its own, were now in control and providing good and plentiful ball.
First, the ubiquitous Myers ended several sure-handed phases by battling his way over despite two defenders clinging to him to bag the bonus point.
Then winger Chris Clark and Rayner added to the try tally with spurts down the left flank.
All four were well converted by Rayner, whose skilful kicking out of hand had also been a feature of Westoe's resurgence.
A flurry of anxiety was caused by an extra-time breakaway try by Marston – full-back Liam Warner again being on target – but Westoe were not to be denied a memorable, and at one stage wholly improbable, victory.
Afterwards, director of rugby Andy Howells said: "I told the boys at half-time that I wanted passion from them, and that's what I got. I am bursting with pride at the way they fought back.
"The performance of everyone in the team in the second half was just tremendous, I would say probably the best they have been all season."
* The Thirds doggedly wore down strong and determined Gateshead to go on a try spree to bring home the Durham County Cup for the third successive year, and the fifth time in six seasons, with a 44-14 victory at Ashbrooke.
The success of Derek Tighe's team was all the more rewarding because the squad contained 11 current or immediately past Colts, one them being winger Daniel Rundell – already being dubbed "the speed machine" - who touched down four times.
Other try scorers were No8 Graham Aldus. flanker Graham Elstob and centre Chris Bedford, with fly-half Colin Gillespie kicking two conversions.
Andrew Kirton was a commanding influence in the back row and Gillespie's over-the-top kicking tactics tired their opponents, giving Westoe's the free ranging backs greater scope.
* The Colts' Under-18 Cup final was postponed at the last minute when opponents Consett protested that they had not been informed of the arrangements.
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Weather for Jarrow
Thursday 09 February 2012
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