Peter the Great would love a repeat of his heroics
IT was one of the most memorable tries in Westoe's decade-long ascendancy to rugby's upper echelons.
The scene in March, 2005, was Huddersfield's atmospheric Lockwood Park ground where the Shieldsmen were having a bruising, no-holds barred battle with their rivals in what had become a two-horse race for the North Two (East) crown.
And with four players off the field injured – two stretchered and a third joining them in hospital – Gareth Nesbit's team were reduced to 14 men and trailing 9-5 in the dying moments.
Then flying winger Paul Hagan was blatantly fouled as he seemed certain to score and, with the culprit sin-binned but pleas for a penalty-try ignored, a 5m scrum was taken, and in the ensuing last-gasp thrust prop Peter Tennet plunged over to the considerable anguish of opponents, and a large and vocal crowd.
It meant that Westoe overtook Huddersfield at the top of the table on their way to the title, and seemed to set a bench mark for the intensity of games between the two clubs, sustained because more often than not there was something at stake.
These events are worth recalling because they are Westoe's opponents tomorrow on what is a red-letter day for 26-year-old Tennet.
When he steps onto the Wood Terrace pitch, as he surely will either at the start or from the bench, it will be his 100th First XV appearance in the sky blue, dark blue and red jersey.
Others in the present squad have played more, indeed the seemingly tireless and indestructible Nesbit crashed through the 200 game-barrier sometime ago.
However, nobody personifies the spirit of Westoe, born of the camaraderie and shared purpose of coming through its junior ranks, more than he does.
May it long be remembered how last season he rallied to the cause when Westoe badly needed his versatile front row skills, although his job as a quantity surveyor had taken him to Leeds and he had switched his allegiance to Otley.
He had gone as a spectator to Morley and watched as his old team-mates were not only beaten by 21-12, but faced with something of a crisis when an injury meant they faced the future without a quality hooker.
After the game Nes and club chairman Duncan Murray asked him to turn out for the rest of the season and he readily agreed, even though it meant a 200-mile return railway journey to train and an understanding girlfriend to drive him to matches.
He helped the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored team to promotion and National 2 North status and remains an integral part of the scene, his task eased by passing his driving test and the generosity of motor company boss and club benefactor Vic Young who has provided him with a car.
But he says: "It is still a hard slog, doing a full day's work and then driving to the ground for a tough workout before driving all the way home to crawl into bed."
His father Denny brought him to watch games at Wood Terrace as a small boy, and he began the upward spiral to the First XV with the under-12s, winning Durham County honours from the ages of 14 to 18, and was selected for North of England Schools as well as Gloucestershire under-20s during a sojourn to the West Country.
His dad will be there to share his big moment along with his kid brother Robbie who turns out for the club's under-9s. "I'm told he's one for the future", says Peter proudly.
And reflecting on that famous try, he declared: "That will always stick out as one of my best moments in rugby.
"I seem to play well against Huddersfield. Let's hope I do so again."
So do we all, Peter – have a good day!
Email to a friend
Print this page- Newcastle target Barnetta to quit Bayer Leverkusen
- Demba Ba insists Newcastle United contract talks ongoing
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Transfer Rumours May 25: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal
- Amalfitano flies into Toon to seal Newcastle deal
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
