South Shields Mariners 0 – 10 West End
A great game played in the worst weather of the season with West End winning 10-0.
On paper what would be a tight contest going into the game with West End up to the chilly challenge from the off. It started with the team showing how good they can be with Ewan Pritchard and John McGrann combining to thwart the Shields winger and turning over the ball with some well worked defence. The forwards once again dominant in the rucks throughout with scrums and lineouts once again being a highlight of our play.
West End gradually gained warmth and attacked countlessly into the opposition’s 22 getting ever so close to the line on a few occasions. Despite the blustery conditions, a lineout let to Joe Rowan once again throwing the ball very well into the hands of Jamie Shilling with the following forwards squeezing over the line with the man himself Chris Hosking getting the try.
South Shields eventually got the chance to attack but a different mind-set in the backs today made sure they had no space to operate with the backs charging at full speed closing the opposing line down very well. This then gave the opportunity for Jamie Shilling to take the ball on a run but a well-placed Mariners full back took him down and the ball was theirs.
The budding centre partnership of Jamie Hutchinson and Harvey Thompson ensured that the home side were not getting through the line. An enforced change came with Dean Henderson coming off for Jordi O'Neill added into the pack, and then injured Michael Pritchard coming off meant Deano’s rest was a short one. The first half ended and west end were leading 7-0 after Marty converted the try.
A moment of madness came when Ewan Pritchard slipped and the ball clipped off his boot for a Mariner to kick the ball up field and take an easy chance to score but unfortunately for them the conditions took him by surprise and he slipped in the momentum of placing the ball down knocking the ball on in the process.
With Mariners choosing to have a 5 man line out an opportunity opened up for Greggs-powered prop forward Dean Henderson to take the ball in open play and went on a magnificent dash for 50 yards. From a spectators view it was like something off Planet Earth where a tiger is chasing the elephant, aside from that the big man made the best run of the game.
The second half West End stepped up and were attacking in Shields 22 very well for long periods. Unfortunately, silly mistakes meant no points rewarded during this period and a shortage of available subs and a high tempo game inevitably meant tiredness and indiscipline crept in. With around 10 minutes to go Pritchard Senior was reintroduced for John McGrann who had the best game he has had in a very long time.
With penalties starting to take their toll on both sides and the home side starting to push back meant West End took the opportunity for points under the posts when they got the chance and they did so successfully with Marty McHugh coming through for West End. At 10-0 with minutes to go Shields went for their chance to put points on the board with their kicker taking a kick from close to halfway and missing.
Following this Tony Kay came up with a good kick for Ewan to chase and he had it in his hands when Shields full back literally came in and slid him off his feet. Just a rewind of Tuesday’s session where he was placed on the tackle bags.
All in all this game was a show of heart and possibly the greatest performance of West End’s season. They showed how well they could play under pressure and in bad conditions.
Very well done for everyone who took part in this game with credit also due to the Shields lads who made it a great game and played in the right spirit.
Tries: Hosking
Conversion: McHugh
Penalty: McHugh
Starting line up:
1 Hosking
2 Rowan
3 Henderson
4 Pritchard
5 McGrann
6 Shilling
7 Foy
8 Venters
9 Kay
10 Thornton
11 Pritchard
12 Hutchinson
13 Thompson
14 Haageman
15 McHugh
Sub: O’Neill
