Lions win puts Westoe back on track
UNPREDICTABLE as ever, Westoe took the maximum five points with a splendid blend of sparkle and substance.
It was hard to believe that this was virtually the same side that had crumbled to abject defeat against lowly Bradford and Bingley just a week before.
In fact, the only change apart from positional ones was that captain Gareth Nesbit was back at loose head prop after a rare absence, and while that was a boost, it couldn't fully explain the dramatic highs and lows that have characterised the team all season.
Certainly, the Wood Terrace faithful could not complain at this performance against eager and exciting opponents, whose attacking methods ensured that high suspense was maintained until the final whistle.
The sparkle that has illuminated the Shieldsmen's better performances brought three first-half tries within 12 minutes as they notched their 11th win in the 22 National 2 North games so far.
But it was sound defensive work overall that kept the Lions' backs largely in check, and restricted them to a brace of tries, both scored by full-back Gareth Collins.
The result, however, could have been very different if Collins had not been tripped by his opposite number Dan Rayson deep in injury time as he pursued his own kick ahead towards the try line. This earned a red card reprisal.
Afterwards, Nesbit said: "Leicester were a good side with attacking players who caused us problems all the way through, and there was some very fine rugby played by both teams.
"But our work rate, especially in defence, was impressive and we really played as a team all around the field.
"After last week's defeat, we badly needed this win to lift our spirits and show people what we are capable of doing."
It was the visitors who took the lead after only five minutes with a breakaway as Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe were menacing their own line.
There was a desperate clearance and a further kick ahead by scrum-half Ben Walker, who sped ahead and passed to Collins who scored. Fly-half John Boden converted.
Five minutes later, a break by flanker Aaron Myers led to the ball spinning across the backs for winger Chris Clark to dart over.
Soon after, his twin James collected a box kick and passed to fellow centre David Haswell to burst through and touch down. In the 22nd minute, Rayson found the gap to score.
A Boden penalty meant that Westoe reached the interval with a 15-10 lead, after a half in which they had just had the edge.
It was the Lions who roared into the attack after the resumption, and so it was against the run of play when Rayson scored to secure the bonus point.
Though it was the hosts who thereafter had the better of things, the game burst into life as the last minutes ticked away when Collins launched an attack from deep inside his own half and after several phases was there to finish the job, Boden again making it seven points.
Leicester continued to press, and so referee Simon Harding's final blast was sweet music to the ears of tense home team supporters.
* The Thirds beat Durham City 31-19 to reach the final of the Durham County Cup.
Winger Daniel Rundell, No8 Graham Aldus, centre Chris Bedford, replacement full-back Richard Burrow and winger Graham Coleman were the try scorers, with fly-half Colin Gillespie kicking three conversions.
* The Seconds, though leading 10-7 at half-time, were trounced 47-10 in their County Cup semi-final at Blaydon.
The Under-17 Colts suffered a narrow 15-14 defeat at Mowden Park.
Flanker Shaun Richardson and fly-half Alex Frost-Younger scored Westoe's tries, both of which were converted by Jordan Carey.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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