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Sat 18 Sep 2010 · National League 2 North
Preston Grasshoppers
1st XV
8
34
Hoppers 8 Westoe 34
Phil Haswell20 Sep 2010 - 16:03
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THE Westoe band wagon rolled merrily on with an all-win impetus in the first three games of their National 2 North campaign. And if it was only spasmodically in top gear, there was sufficient merit in a wholehearted display to vanquish error-prone oppone
Once again, the near impeccable place kicking of fly-half Mark Bedworth was a crucial factor. It says much for his reputation that there was much surprise when he missed a relatively easy penalty, but he then made amends by kicking two more from beyond 40 metres and converting all the four tries that earned the Shieldsmen a bonus point.
The victory means that Westoe have moved up two places to the third top spot amid the five clubs - Loughborough Students, Caldy, Fylde and Leicester Lions being the others - who will go into Saturday’s matches still with a clean sheet.
Number 8 Miles Scott again gave a stand-out performance and a suitably elated director of rugby Andy Howells poured praise on the contribution of the entire back row, which also comprised Aaron Myers, Joe Maw and replacement Graeme Smith.
But he said: “It was a fine all round performance, although if we had managed to get the extra pass in five or six times the try count would have been higher. As it was we got five points away from home and you can’t do better than that.”
It was the hosts who drew first blood when within a minute they scythed their way through the defence, the forwards then foraging their way almost to the try line before the ball was passed to winger Matt Hughes who dived over.
Such was the resilience thereafter of the Westoe rearguard that this remained the only time it was breached, the admirable Bedworth’s kicking from hand relieving the pressure of a number of spirited attacks.
His brace of long range penalties edged his side into the lead, only to lose it when full back Tom Bell’s equally creditable kick brought three points.
Then on the half-hour, swift and elusive centre James Clark dodged through three attempted tackles in a 40-metre curved dash on the right give his side a 13-8 half-time lead.
To this point, there had been no marked difference between the sides, but soon after the resumption a penalty try was awarded when Clark was fouled as he seemed certain to ground a kick ahead and Preston’s game deteriorated.
Westoe had taken control and two spectacular tries each featuring the speed of a new recruit sealed their victory, encouraging early hopes that this term they will improve on the final mid-table place achieved last season in their debut at National level.
Firstly, in the 48th minute winger Gareth Kerr sprinted 60 metres into his opponents’ 22 before passing to Bedworth who cleverly dummied his way to the 5 metre line and off-loaded to Clark to score.
Then it was with rather cruel irony that Westoe scored the bonus try from a determined Hoppers attack. A pick and thrust battering of the try line finally set the home team backs away only for winger Tom Banks to intercept on his own 22 and race the rest of the way up field to touch down and so complete Preston’s misery.
The victory means that Westoe have moved up two places to the third top spot amid the five clubs - Loughborough Students, Caldy, Fylde and Leicester Lions being the others - who will go into Saturday’s matches still with a clean sheet.
Number 8 Miles Scott again gave a stand-out performance and a suitably elated director of rugby Andy Howells poured praise on the contribution of the entire back row, which also comprised Aaron Myers, Joe Maw and replacement Graeme Smith.
But he said: “It was a fine all round performance, although if we had managed to get the extra pass in five or six times the try count would have been higher. As it was we got five points away from home and you can’t do better than that.”
It was the hosts who drew first blood when within a minute they scythed their way through the defence, the forwards then foraging their way almost to the try line before the ball was passed to winger Matt Hughes who dived over.
Such was the resilience thereafter of the Westoe rearguard that this remained the only time it was breached, the admirable Bedworth’s kicking from hand relieving the pressure of a number of spirited attacks.
His brace of long range penalties edged his side into the lead, only to lose it when full back Tom Bell’s equally creditable kick brought three points.
Then on the half-hour, swift and elusive centre James Clark dodged through three attempted tackles in a 40-metre curved dash on the right give his side a 13-8 half-time lead.
To this point, there had been no marked difference between the sides, but soon after the resumption a penalty try was awarded when Clark was fouled as he seemed certain to ground a kick ahead and Preston’s game deteriorated.
Westoe had taken control and two spectacular tries each featuring the speed of a new recruit sealed their victory, encouraging early hopes that this term they will improve on the final mid-table place achieved last season in their debut at National level.
Firstly, in the 48th minute winger Gareth Kerr sprinted 60 metres into his opponents’ 22 before passing to Bedworth who cleverly dummied his way to the 5 metre line and off-loaded to Clark to score.
Then it was with rather cruel irony that Westoe scored the bonus try from a determined Hoppers attack. A pick and thrust battering of the try line finally set the home team backs away only for winger Tom Banks to intercept on his own 22 and race the rest of the way up field to touch down and so complete Preston’s misery.
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