West End 17 – 10 Medicals Serpents
There was an historic win for West End RFC today, with the club proudly winning the plate final 17-10, to gain the first ever trophy in the club’s history.
The game started well with West End battering the Medicals forwards upfront, this dominance gave the West End backs the chance to attack several times. Despite this advantage by West End, Medicals took the first points of the game off with a try out wide; however, West End kept their heads up and attacked the Medicals try line for the last 20 minutes of the half, spending much of it in possession of the ball inside the Medicals’ 22. West End had several chances to take the lead in the game but two West End attacks saw the ball held up and knocked on near the try line.
Another West End knock on came about when John McGrann broke away from a West End maul and laid a beautiful offload to winger Ewan Pritchard, who dropped the ball two metres from the Medicals try line. This was a series of mistakes from West End in the closing 10 minutes of the half. The first half ended with when prop Dean Henderson, scored the first try of the game for West End, breaking off the back of a ruck and smashing his way through several Medicals players to score. To make it even better this was Henderson’s first try in front of his new girlfriend, very romantic Deano. West End deputy captain and fly-half Marty McHugh added the extra points.
The second half began with West Ends dominance from the first half continuing into the second half. Changes at half time led to Henderson and Livingstone coming off for Seddon and Gardiner. West End had several good breaks but the game continued to ebb and flow, requiring Ewan Pritchard to make (in his words) four match saving tackles right on the half way line. However, the youthful and overconfident Mr Pritchard dropped more balls today than a drunken clown at the circus. He still has lovely hair though......
As the game continued, West End added another try from lots of possession and dominance in the Medicals 22, when Jacob Foy scored another great solo try to add to West End’s tally. Foy broke away from a driving maul to beat several players and touch down wide on the right wing. An excellent solo effort from the stand in scrum half.
With the game standing at 12 - 5 to West End, Medicals scored another breakaway try thanks to some good attacking efforts from their backline. Medicals failed to add the extra points and this cost them dearly towards the end of the second half when Jordi O'Neill once again proved his worth by scoring a great try, which Ewan will say he helped, by pushing his backside over the try line.
Other highlights from the game were:
- Callum Venters was once again a human wrecking ball achieving some greats drives from the back of both the scrum and mauls and having a try held up.
- The West End backline which consisted of Ewan Pritchard, Jamie Shilling, Harvey Thompson, Jamie Hutchinson, Marty McHugh, Jacob Foy and Mark Douglass playing amazingly in attack as well as a staunch defence.
- A forward pack of Chris Hosking, Dean Henderson, Joe Rowan, Dan Livingstone, Adam Healy, John McGrann, Darren Seddon, Callum Venters, Matt Almond and Paul O'Neill once again dominating the game with superb attack play as well as being outstanding in defence.
With the game still tense at 17-10 to West End the referee blew the whistle and West End had won the plate final. Scenes of mass celebration among players and supporters. A special mention must also go to those members and supporters of West End, who helped contribute to a magnificent final. West End winning the clubs first ever silverware.
The West End players and supporters are currently celebrating the clubs win, and may not remember what they achieved tomorrow morning, but congratulations to all involved today. A big well done to the Medicals players who showed great spirit throughout the game and made the fixture a truly memorable occasion.
West End Tries
Henderson, Foy, O’Neill
Conversions
McHugh (1)
Squad
1 Hosking
2 Rowan
3 Henderson
4 O’Neill
5 Healy
6 McGrann
7 Livingstone
8 Venters
9 Foy
10 McHugh
11 Pritchard
12 Shilling
13 Thompson
14 Hutchinson
15 Douglass
Subs: Dancer, Gardiner, Elliott, Allmond, Seddon, Purvis, Walker
