Five-try Westoe safe from the drop
THOUGH this was a rather ragged performance overall, there was enough sparkle to bring Westoe five good tries and put a spring in their step.
It was five points in the bag for the second successive week, this being the 11th time they have secured the try-scoring bonus.
And it surely removed any lingering anxiety, created by the previous five-defeat sequence, that they would not survive their first season in National 2 North.
But while they must now feel secure, this result seems likely to have further condemned their bottom-of-the-table opponents to relegation.
It is another salutary lesson of a famous club diminished by an extravagant bid to buy success.
Director of Rugby Andy Howells, while sharing the relief that his team are back on track, was not in celebratory mood.
He said: "Obviously I am very pleased at the result, and the boys cannot be faulted for endeavour.
"But there was too much that was scrappy. Our execution was often not good enough, and our concentration levels seemed to slip.
"Better opponents would have capitalised on our mistakes. We need to get back down to earth and put a few things right in training."
The Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen had the better of things from the start, with their pack in particular asserting its superiority.
They went ahead in the 17th minute when No8 Michael Ellery grabbed a loose ball just inside the 22, and powered his way through three attempted tackles to touch down beneath the posts, centre Dan Rayson kicking the first of his four conversions.
Waterloo hardly escaped from their own half, and did not make a meaningful attack until just before the half-hour, when they won a penalty converted by centre Liam McGovern.
Though Ellery scored again just before half-time – a several-phased attack ending with him sprinting 20m to go over – a 14-3 lead at the interval was a meagre return for plentiful good ball and possession.
For that, the hosts' spirited defence can take much credit. Soon after the resumption, athletic flanker Aaron Myers broke through a flimsy rearguard to touch down – the second Westoe try while opposition flanker Jonathan Casey was in the sin-bin – whereupon Waterloo at last bared their teeth.
In their best period of play, full-back James O'Brien sprinted down the right flank to collect a clever McGovern grubber kick to score, and then winger Steve Ross touched down after the ball had spun across the backs.
It was rough justice that between these tries, and against the run of play, Rayson intercepted a pass and sped over from 35m.
Then, with 10 minutes to go, he again touched down to settle matters after fly-half David Haswell had pierced the defence.
* Waterloo are under new management. President Phil Mahon proudly revealed that 13 of Saturday's squad had come through the club's Colts and that its former community basics have been restored. Bravo for that.
* Flanker Hayden Richards had an outstanding game in the Seconds' 71-10 victory in the quarter-final of the Durham County Cup against Billingham at Wood Terrace.
He touched down five times and it was his off-load that set up three of the six other tries scored by centre John Irving (two), winger Martin Albers, full-back Laurie Bridgett, fly-half Derek Chatt and replacement prop Dave Stevenson, with scrum-half Matthew Mellish kicking eight conversions.
The visitors were overwhelmed by the splendid running rugby of a Westoe team in top form, but won plaudits for their fighting spirit throughout.
* The Thirds, also in cup quarter-final action, beat hosts Billingham 25-15, their fleeter backs being the decisive factor.
Tries were scored by centres John Deacon and Chris Mackley, and scrum-half Anthony Kail, with fly-half Colin Gillespie kicking two conversions and two penalties.
* The Colts earned an honorable 7-7 draw in an evenly-fought Under-18 league clash at top-of-the table Wigton.
Lock James Robinson scored a try, converted by centre Sam Hughes, after the home side had taken the lead.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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