Westoe suffer a mauling by the Lions
THIS just was not Westoe's day. It was as though the fates, having seen them rise to fifth-top in the table with five wins in the last six games, mischievously conspired to kick the table leg away.
First, two key men cried off which meant a belated restructuring to what had seemed a settled side.
Towering lock Matthew Muchall, who among other attributes plays such a vital role in line-outs – whether winning his own throw-in or stealing the opponents' ball – was sidelined with a damaged calf muscle.
And livewire No8 Mike Ellery, whose speed and energy have virtually made him an extra back, was also counted out because of a groin strain.
Then a serious road accident trapped the players' coach in a massive M1 traffic jam which meant it arrived at the Lions' ground 30 minutes after the scheduled 2pm kick-off, and almost seven hours after leaving South Shields.
Hardly the best preparation for a National 2 North game against an eager host side snapping at your heels just one league place below.
Then after 20 minutes – spring-heeled centre James Clark, the team's leading try scorer – limped off with a knee injury.
All of which elicits sympathy, though director of rugby Andy Howells was in no mood to seek excuses. He declared: "The truth is that we played badly. In fact, it was something of a capitulation.
"But you don't become a bad side overnight. We will learn from this and move on."
Spirited Leicester's fierce tackling repeatedly foiled Westoe's enterprise and won much turnover ball, enabling them to run in seven tries in a game which, because of the late start, was switched to a practice pitch that had floodlights.
And though they thoroughly deserved their victory, it should be said in the Shieldsmen's defence that they had good periods of play and the final scoreline flattered their hosts.
But the Lions adapted much better to the wet and heavy conditions, and made cleverer use of a strong wind blowing diagonally across the field.
Yet it was the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen who took the lead in the third minute when a free-flowing attack by the backs ended with full-back Dan Rayson touching down. But that was to be their only success.
The home team responded with two tries before half time and two more immediately after the interval to pretty well settle matters.
Their star man was prop John Williamson who scored four tries, three from powerful drives and a fourth when he nimbly kept abreast of a breakaway to be on hand to finish the job.
Howells said afterwards: "Things did seem to go against us, but you can't put the result down to hard luck.
"After scoring an early try we should have had the impetus to go on, but we didn't. In fact, we sank to a pretty low level.
"Obviously the long delay in the coach didn't help, but at the same time the Leicester lads had to hang about waiting for us to arrive and so I am not going to look for excuses. We just did not play anywhere near our potential."
* The Seconds came a cropper at Blaydon against physical and well-drilled opponents who won the Candy League clash 74-10.
Wingers Chris Laycock and Haydn Richards scored the Westoe men's two consolation tries.
* The Fourths' fixture at Horden was called off when the hosts were unable to raise a team.
* The Colts brought the only chink of sunshine to Wood Terrace with a 10-5 victory in their Under-18 League game at Billingham.
Johnny Nellist touched down just two minutes before the end to steal the points.
David Rundle had scored the earlier try after a 45-metre dash that split the Teessiders' defence.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
