1st XV - Match center

South Shields Westoe
Whitby
Sat 19 Jan 14:15 - Northern Division - Durham/ Northumberland Division one Full time

Westoe Whitewash Whitby

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Seventeen Try Spectacle for Shivering Spectators

A difficult day for visitors, Whitby, making the long journey to find a Westoe side on a current run of good form. With winter settling in the cold air wasn’t the greatest for open rugby; however the home side put on a varied attacking display, coupled with a solid organised defence.

Straight from the kick-off, Alex Wylie fielded the ball and drove deep up the Westoe slope, setting up a well-placed Arnold kick and the first line-out in the twenty-two. The catch and drive was well executed driving 20m to the line for Martin Bengston to touch down. 5-0

Some early Whitby pressure faltered, allowing Matt Rannigan to break free with support leading to a second line-out. Whitby chose to step back to prevent the drive; however John Younghusband turned and powered his way to try number two. Converted 12-0

Prolonged Westoe pressure fifteen minutes in and Andy Kirton split the defence feeding Joe McKenzie who picked a great angled line to cross under the posts. Converted 19-0

The restart landed short and the resulting scrum allowed Sam Gaff to pick from the base feeding Sam Seymour and then receiving the return pass to cross for the bonus point score after only seventeen minutes. 24-0

Alex Wylie and Sam Seymour linked to eat up the ground and a couple of scrums close to the line led to Andrew Kirton crashing over from 5m out. 29-0

Whitby never gave up fighting and fought their way to Westoe’s half, but a loose pass gave Jake Arnold a fifty metre intercept try. Converted 36-0

With Westoe’s line-out excelling, they crossed via their driving maul another twice in quick succession, the tries claimed by Louis Kellett and Raymie Elliott. 46-0

A second short restart, scrum and subsequent quick free-kick saw Sam Gaff breaking clear and offloading to Andrew Kirton for the score. 51-0

The final play of the half was an Alex Wylie kick ahead, chasing the ball to pick and score, ending the half with the side’s tenth try. 56-0

Now playing down the infamous Wood Terrace slope the crowd expected the floodgates to open; however the half-time talk transformed the Whitby side, who came out fighting and showed true spirit and rugby pride.

They protected the ball well and threw all they had against the home side, coming close on several occasions, only to be thwarted by a Westoe defence on their very best form.

It took another seventeen minutes for the next score, inevitably from another line-out and drive. As the maul was slowed metres from the line, Adam Sneller spun from the base to cross. 61-0

Alex Wylie was on hand to collect the restart and gave the pass for support runner Sam Gaff to finish off under the posts. Converted 68-0

Twenty minutes in saw Westoe’s 13th score with an Alex Wylie front peel finding the defence all tied up in preventing the drive and crossing from five metres out, capping his man-of-the-match performance. 73-0

Whitby still stuck to the job and again came close to a score out wide, the final man being forced into touch by Paul Evans.

With ten minutes to play replacement Connor Pascoe set up a couple of scores; the first being an accurate chip kick for Paul Evans to collect and touch down; followed quickly with a deft pass to Louis Kellett, who barged his way through traffic and offloaded to Jake Arnold to show his pace out wide. 85-0

With the light fading and the clock winding down Westoe finished the day with long range solo efforts, first an unconverted try from Martin Bengston and then Jake Arnold claiming his hat-trick and ending the day. Converted 97-0

A hard day at the office for Whitby who found Westoe on top form, dominating the line-out and loose play and with a defence that never allowed Whitby any foothold in the match. They showed true spirit and never gave in despite not being able to match Westoe on the day.

A special mention to young referee Cameron Patterson who controlled the game well, with a noticed absence of haranguing from the Westoe stand.

The development team also won 24-17 in an away fixture v Blythe.

Next week the side travel to Barnard Castle for what should be a tougher encounter and closer affair.

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League round up

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Standings

# Team Pl Pts
1. Durham City 26 119
2. West Hartlepool 26 114
3. Northern 26 113
4. Stockton 26 99
5. South Shields Westoe 26 99
6. Novocastrians 26 73
7. Hartlepool Rovers 26 60

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