Another week another poor result for WL as we continue to battle with injuries, this week saw Dec Penny and Lewis Bromley missing through injury, Gaz Stokes missing through re-retiring and Ste Anderson going to a fair in Hull.

Nonetheless we welcome Sam Neave back at 9, where he formed a half back partnership with Campbell Breakwell and kicked off towards the club end.

Early pressure provided Campbell Breakwell with the opportunity for 3 points which he took easily. 3-0.

WL added to this only 5 minutes later when Cam turned provider having jinked his way through the Bees defence and sending a pass out to Eliah Chitiyo on the right wing. Unluckily for Eliah the greedy Jack Marshall had sniffed a score and intercepted this pass to get on the score sheet in the corner, converted by Cam. 10-0.

Wests then immediately conceded a try, a poor exit giving Bees the ball and then some poor tackling letting them in under the posts for a converted try. 10-7.

From kick-off Wests maintained the ball better, some good running from Duane Smith and Ben Waddington taking play behind the bees line. Unfortunately, in the play Jamie Cockin succumbed to the WL injury curse and had to leave the pitch with a nasty looking injury to his ankle.

WL continued to work the phases, Will Betts and Ben Stringer featuring regularly as they looked to emulate their hero, Dan Baxter. Eventually WL broke the line and Campbell Breakwell raced through, hot stepping his way through the defence, only to be cruelly scythed down meters short of the line. The supporting Sam Neave was there to take advantage however and majestically collected the ball and flopped over the line for another converted score. 17-7

See above – 17-12

The game continued to be battled out and an offside by Bees gave Campbell another 3 points and we went in to half time with the game fairly evenly poised
Half Time – West Leeds 20 – 12 Bees

From kick off WL collected the ball then set about a new tactic of the mystery offload, popping the ball regardless of whether anyone was actually there. Funnily enough, this doesn’t seem to work, especially from your own 22m and the ball was turned over by Bees who attacked the line.

Somehow Jack Marshall managed to high tackle someone, using all of his 4ft 2inches to high shot the Bees second row and was sent for 10 minutes on the naughty step. From the penalty Bees kicked to the corner and mauled there way over the line for a converted try. 20-19.

With Jack off the pitch Eliah was finally allowed to catch the passes intended for him and he used his pace to glide past the Bees defence for a score in the corner, conversion missed. 25-19.

See above 25-24

Another score followed when WL were pushed off there own scrum ball in the Bees 22m, Bees kept the ball and ran the length, before there new powerful centre crashed over for a converted try. 25-31.

Further scores followed for bees who made the most of some poor WL defence, first a penalty for offside made the score 25-34, then a sneaky lineout move saw them break down the 5m channel for a converted score, before a final converted try for the centre mentioned above to make the score 25-48.

A terrible second half cost WL dearly, but Bees were good value for there win and we wish them luck in the next round. Man of the match for WL was Sam Neave for a flawless performance at scrum half, and we can’t give it to Waddo every week.

Next up is Scarborough at home in the league.