Westoe RFC, the premier rugby side of South Tyneside and sponsored by JML, began their 2014 -15 season with a first round game of the Durham County Senior Cup at Billingham.

Billingham had taken the honours in the last game of the 2013 - 14 season when they won the Cup against Westoe at Durham City’s ground in April early this year.

The JML sponsored Westoe side took to the field at Billingham with intentions of reversing that result of last season.

In a game that produced nine tries, four for Billingham and five for Westoe the score at the end was 29 all. As Westoe scored five of those tries they advanced to the next round of the Durham Senior Cup at the expense of Billingham.

Billingham began in the same fashion as they finished last season, and scored in the first few minutes of the game. Their captain Peter Evens stepped up to take the conversion and as he began his run up; live wire Andrew Lawson sprinted towards him and charged the kick down. No one would realise until the end of the game how important Andrew’s action would turn out to be?

Westoe recovered from the early try by Billingham to score two of their own. Andrew Lawson’s blistering pace allowed him to out run the opposition on two occasions during the first half to score and Westoe finished the first half 10 points to 5 in the lead. Good strong defence and steady attacking play by the forwards and backs brought Andrew his two chances to score.

Westoe began the second half with Andrew Lawson once again bursting clear of the Billingham defence to score his third try, Matty Mellish converted.

Billingham responded with two tries of their own, Evens converting both of them to give Billingham the lead 19 points to 17.

Once again Westoe rose to their task and during the next ten minutes came back into the game with two well worked tries for Sam Gaff & Mark Proctor. One of which Matty Mellish converted.

As the game moved into the last ten minutes Billingham scrambled over for a try that Evens again converted, he also scored a penalty in injury time to level the scores at 29 points all.

Despite Billingham’s attempt to find the wining score, Westoe’s defence held firm until the final whistle when Matty Mellish Kicked to touch after a series of Billingham indiscretions had the referee awarding Westoe repeated penalties.

A good and rewarding start to the season for the players, new coaches Haswell and De Fava and also new Captain James Clark.