By then it was too late; Caldy, with a vivid display of swift and creative open rugby, had run in six tries and were 38-nil ahead with the five points they crucially needed to sustain their National 2 North championship bid effectively in the bag.
A week earlier, Gareth Nesbit‘s men had rallied dramatically from an early 28-point deficit to snatch a 38-35 victory against visitors Rugby Lions.
Again they retaliated with vigour and could justifiably claim that for the remainder of the game they had the better of opponents involved in an enthralling tussle with Loughborough Students and Macclesfield for the league crown.
But, this time, they had left themselves a mountain too high to surmount.
Because of a clash of fixtures, a second-X1 cricket match between South Shields - who share the ground with Westoe - and Gateshead Fell had to be completed before the rugby players could take to the field.
Though some of the Caldy contingent understandably found this delay irksome, they were soon in far better spirits as their team roared into action, full back Benjamin MacPherson touching down beside the left corner flag in the third minute.
That was the start of a rampage and in the next ten minutes flanker Jake Lyon, lock Paul Arnold, MacPherson, again, and scrum half John Broxson had scythed through defenders seemingly unable to lay a hand on them.
Westoe managed to steady the ship somewhat, but in the 27th minute number 8 Craig Smithson added to their woes by grabbing a ball that sprang free from a lineout and finding a gap.
That was the nadir. Maybe it was pride - and there’s plenty of that in this Westoe side - that brought a sudden resurgence with telling tackles, a deftness in the backs and a pack, as ever, giving their counterparts a tough time.
Twice the ball was held up over the try line before the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen got their dues when flowing attacks just before half time ended with wingers Chris Clark and Craig Olugbode darting over.
They kept up the pressure after the resumption, a lineout inside the 22 leading to a strong maul from which Rayner pierced the defence to off-load to Clark to score his second try.
So it was rather against the run of play when fly half Richard Vasey kicked a penalty and then his fifth conversion after MacPherson had notched his hat-trick try, breaking from a maul to cleverly dummy his way over.
Twice more Westoe were unable to ground the ball after driving over, but deservedly earned a bonus point when Rayner, who had a fine game, bustled his way through and then kicked his third conversion, whereupon the final whistle sounded.
Director of rugby Andy Howells said: “Caldy are a fine side who began with an enthusiasm we must try to emulate early in the game. But we battled well and won the second half, getting the bonus point we had set out to achieve at the interval.”
*The Colts put on a splendid display of aggressive open rugby to vanquish Carlisle 48-17 in their Under-18 League clash at Oakleigh Gardens, tries being scored by full back Alex Anderson (two), centre Richard Burrows, number 8 Michael Thompson, prop David Geach and winger Daniel Rundle with fly half Sam Hughes kicking five conversions.
*The Seconds’ Candy League game at Darlington Mowden Park was called off by opponents unable to raise a side.

Craig just befor he scored!