Westoe are in credit at last
AS statistics go, it is hardly conspicuous. Yet it is a significant indication of how the tide has turned favourably in Westoe's fortunes.
Saturday's 28-20 win at Huddersfield meant the points they have scored rose to 229, while the tally conceded now stands at 225.
A difference of just four is by far the lowest credit margin of teams in the top half of 16-club National 2 North - Gareth Nesbit's men are seventh top.
But, nevertheless, it is the first time they have had their noses in front in this respect and so it is a welcome psychological fillip.
Just to show how contrary statistics can be, despite that meagre difference, the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen's scoring skills have so far earned them eight bonus points, a number matched only by top-of-the table Loughborough Students.
There is now a buoyancy about Wood Terrace which is in stark contrast to the despondency five weeks ago when a solitary win in the first four games had newly-promoted Westoe malingering in third bottom spot.
These had included two home defeats against Harrogate and Preston Grasshoppers, the first that but for defensive lethargy could have been won and the second certainly should have been.
So that modest points for-and-against statistic is a tangible indicator of how the corner has been turned.
Indeed, it is an impressive U-turn, with four of the last five games having being won in impressive style to propel the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored side up the table.
Which has obviously brought Big Nes plenty of satisfaction, but is also the reason why he shies away from acknowledging that Westoe are firm favourites when second bottom Bradford and Bingley come to town tomorrow.
The Yorkshiremen have only a solitary win and a draw in the first nine games, but he declared: "If we can turn our game around, so can they and you can bet they will come at us strongly.
"They will be fighting hard to escape from the bottom reaches of the table, just as we were. And results in this league so far have shown that everybody is capable of beating everybody else.
"If you look at their scores you will see that though they have lost they have not been a million miles away."
He added: "Anyway, I have always believed in concentrating on lifting our own levels of performance and not concerning myself too much about our opponents."
What did please and impress him was the fine form of two players who on Saturday came back into the side from injury.
Chris Judson, whose nose was broken against Loughborough Students seven weeks ago, donned the No9 jersey that unavailable Peter Phelan had made his own, and Paul Bird resumed his place in the second row a month after jarring an old calf problem.
Said Nes: "They both put in their best performance of the season.
"Players now know that such is the competition for places that they have to take their opportunities when they arise. It is healthy for the team that that is the case."
Missing from the quad are wingers Chris Clark who is with the Whalers side at the Singapore Sevens and James Walker who has pulled a calf muscle.
They will be replaced by Mark Olubode and Matthew Phelan, with Dan Rayson going to inside centre and James Phillips at full back.
* The game is sponsored by the family of Alf "Tubby" Eltringham, who as both a rugby player and hard-hitting batsman was a robust and colourful post-war character at Wood Terrace where his ashes are scattered. The match ball is sponsored by the Junior section.
* Talented number 8 John Dye, who damaged his calf against at Loughborough, makes a come back in the Seconds' Candy League game at Middlesbrough.
It is to be earnestly hoped that, after missing almost all of last season through injury, his luck has now changed.
* Supporters are reminded that all games now kick off at the earlier time of 2.15pm.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 10 February 2012
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