Westoe Reverse Horden Result

Defence Sets up Scoring Opportunities

South Shields Westoe entertained Horden & Peterlee at Wood Terrace on Saturday looking to reverse the early season loss that triggered their drop in form earlier in the season. After last week’s outstanding performance, hopes were high that they could continue their winning ways and take the win.

Playing up the hill Westoe started strong, stealing the kick-off and attacking from the start. Powerful drives from Andy Kirton, Raymie Elliott, Louis Kellett and Joe McKenzie claimed territory, but were met by a solid defence.

With a Horden defence not willing to give ground, Westoe went to the air; however a clean take and kick to space by full-back, Turnbull, gave Horden good territory.

Horden’s pack took the early plaudits, driving Westoe back and earning the penalty after six minutes to take the lead. 0-3

The early exchanges lacked the ferocity of last week’s match; however both sides showed a willingness to play with defences holding firm.

Westoe found themselves under attack; however their defence was on point and a stripped ball sent McKenzie on his way upfield. With great support lines from Sam Gaff, Sean Ramsay and Kirton they linked well finding a striding Andy Sutherland to go the last twenty metres under the posts to claim the lead. Converted 7-3

At this point Westoe were finding it difficult to penetrate the visitors’ defence, with Horden in control of the scums and denying the initial front-foot ball for their back-line.

The next score again came from a turnover, Westoe’s McKenzie stripping the ball, with Andy Kirton taking route one through traffic. Sam Seymour recycled the ball quickly and found a rampaging Kellettt who wowed the stand with a 30m individual charge, bowling tacklers in his path and touching down under the posts. Converted 14-3

Horden attacked from the restart, winning the ball and edging down the slope. After several line-out drives were held up, Horden’s scrum almost took them over the line, but rather than staying bound they picked and Westoe forced the knock-on earning a defensive scrum and preventing the score.

Horden’s big pack attacked again, but this time the ball was fed in and out with pace, Sam Gaff picking and speeding to the line from his own twenty-two, evading the retreating visitors. Converted 21-3

Horden were still proving a hard nut to crack and despite a great move from a Sutherland break, finding Kellett, Ryan Lamb and John Younghusband, they saw out the half with no more scoring and still in the match at the half. 21-3 HT

Westoe threw the gauntlet down immediately from the restart, opting to run from their own try-line, Derek Worthington made the initial break, combining with fellow centre, Sam Hughes and then onto flyer Paul Evans, who stepped inside the visitors’ last defender and outpaced everyone to score after less than a minute, earning the bonus point and denting the visitors’ ambitions. Converted 28-3

Horden did come back strong again, using their big powerful runners from deep and trying to batter their way through, but the home side stayed solid, missing very few hits.

Westoe also stayed tight with drives from Kirton, Lamb, Elliott and Ramsay setting up the long cross-kick from Sutherland, dropping perfectly for Ross Macauley to take out wide and then set off on a lateral line to the posts for the score. Converted 35-3

Westoe were securing better ball at scrum time by ensuring quick in and out play, which allowed McKenzie and Hughes to combine well in the midfield and feed Matt Rannigan out wide with a little work to finish off the score from 20m out, handing off the last defender. Converted 42-3

Horden were still going for the score and for short periods looked threatening; however the quick line-speed and seemingly better fitness meant that attacks failed due to turnovers or unforced errors as they tired.

Westoe’s next attack came from a huge 60-70m penalty kick to touch from Sutherland, with Westoe winning the line-out and sending the ball wide for Macauley to bring back in the posts and palm the ball to Haydn Richards to drive home with just under twenty left to play. Converted 49-3

It’s unsure what happened to the home side at this point, as they suddenly found themselves being penalised at every breakdown. Only conceding five penalties in the first 60 minutes, they gave up ten in the final 20, also receiving three yellow cards along the way, for persistent offending and a high tackle.

Horden struck back after 25 minutes, opting for a scrum, no. 8, Gilmour picked and fed Heckles, who forced his way over from the 22m line. Converted 49-10

With Westoe now finding themselves players down and in defensive mode, Sutherland spotted the move and took the interception to take Westoe over the fifty mark, converting his own try. 56-10

The final play came again from defence, Evans stealing the ball and sending Hughes on an 80 dash through the now tired opposition to score Westoe’s ninth try and secure a fine win. Converted 63-10

Not quite the dazzling display of last week, but that may be in part to the stubborn defence early in the match from the visitors. Westoe stuck to their plan and remained patient throughout, earning the right to go wide and executing well.

The forwards worked hard all game and matched their opponents up front, eventually taking control due to superior fitness, and the whole team again showed great defensive sets in keeping any dangers in check.

A good day for Sutherland’s boot, taking all eighteen points on offer, an unusual occurrence this season and hopefully bodes well for the remaining games.

Westoe host Hartlepool Rovers next Saturday and another game in which they will want to reverse the previous result when they lost away by 28-20.

The semi-final of the National Intermediate Cup will be played on April 20th, away to Midlands side Kenilworth.