Echo Sport
Gutsy Westcliff give survival hopes a big boost
7:00pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
Westcliff gave their survival hopes a tremendous boost with a magnificent performance and result at CS Rugby 1863.
The game was spoiled by lashing rain and strong winds but the Westcliff performance to a man was superb as they triumphed 25-17 against their seventh placed hosts.
Heavily out-gunned up front by big and powerful forwards, the Westcliff effort was marshalled by scrum-half Ben Jones and new signing Bryn Hudson was outstanding in the back row as the whole team had an attack of the heroics.
Frustration at not getting their way led to some indiscipline from CS and they conceded penalties which Westcliff’s Ben McKeith took full advantage of to kick five out of five and at half-time Westclff were 15-0 in front.
CS came out strongly in the second half and this in turn meant the hard-worked Westcliff defence had to put in some desperate tackling to keep them out.
In fact, their first points came from a penalty and the lead was cut to 12 points.
Having got on the scoreboard, CS were keen to wipe out the visitors’ lead but Westcliff are growing into this level of rugby and though at times under pressure, kept cool and from an excellent attack, Hudson picked up the ball and beat three men to score under the posts. McKeith’s conversion made it 22-3 but CS soon started to pull out all the stops and put Westcliff on the back-foot.
That eventually led to a converted try and CS were then also awarded a penalty try as Westcliff’s gallant eight were unable to keep up under tremendous pressure.
The try was converted but CS then gave away a penalty and, a remark to the referee brought the kick 10 metres nearer their line, enabling Ben McKeith to complete his side’s scoring with another accurate kick.
The victory kept Westcliff fourth from bottom in the table and delighted their director of rugby, Bob Smith who called the performance “gutsy” and was also full of praise for the entire squad.
Westcliff: Strachan, Runneckles, Binneman, S Jones, Scoggins, Maiava, Dartnell, Hudson, B Jones, McKeith, Levy, O'Brien, Harvey, Reynolds, Parmenter.
Replacements: L J Smith, R Smith & Kikvidze.