WHEN David Barrow began his duties as Westoe's fourth official at the Kendal game, it was by sheer coincidence 50 years to the very Saturday after first setting foot in the ground as a nervous 16-year-old prop selected for the Fourth XV, kicking two penalties to make that faraway occasion even more memorable.
He was happy to remain at that level – being in the side that won the Durham Shield in 1961, led by fondly-remembered Tommy Wardlaw – and captaining it himself for six years before earning a high reputation as a referee.
In recent seasons he ha
s been a regular at First XV home games, standing in the stand beside the halfway line with other "Wardlaw warriors" – Michael Marr, whose father Fred was for many years "Mr Rugby" at Westoe, Allan Bage and Dr Chris Hargreaves.
But now he has been lured back into action to perform a role, compulsory at National level, of recording all the game's statistical details and ensuring that regulations are complied with.
Also on the comeback trail is John Deacon, brother of sprinting ace Jared, whose own remarkable speed down the wing was a major factor in Westoe winning the Durham and Northumberland Divison One crown by a distance in 2000-01 before he vanished from the scene.
He turned out for the Vic Young-sponsored Fourths in their 19-17 win at Durham City on Saturday – along with another brother, Dave, who is a newcomer to the game – and, I'm told, still showed a fine turn of speed.
The brothers are down to play again against South Tyneside College at Oakleigh Gardens.
