Mowden suffer heartache in the final minutes

With good weather and a full squad, the omens looked good for Mowden on Sunday.

An opening phase of champagne rugby saw ShaunT settuping up two rucks nad the quick phase ball with CiaranR being on top of hte play meant a quick ball out to AlexF saw Mowden score in the opening minutes. JonnyH converting.

Depsite being camped on Westoe's 22, Westoe had switched on and Mowden could not penetrate their try line.

With JohnA having a good game of picking and driving he was particularly unlucky not to have a break away with a final tackle stopping him on a fine drive.

Eight changes at half time was meant to inject some fresh pace into the game. However, despite putting Westoe under pressure from the kick off, Westoe worked their way up field and was not long before a penalty saw Westoe kicking for the posts and converting.

Another good kick saw Westoe under pressure and finally after a couple of rucks and phases the ball was spun out to the backs where AlexF still had work to do to run over in the corner for a try. However, with a missed conversion, this till left a lot to do.

Westoe kept at it doggedly and finally with a strong run from their number 10, a reach over the try line saw a score of and a conversion for Westoe putting the score at 12-10.

Westoe kept the pressure on and a penalty in the closing minutes saw a missed dropped goal being attempted but missed. With the chance of a conversion to win the game, Westoe managed to miss the kick on the outside of the post. Mowden had been given a wak up call.

However, Westoe made a change for their large forward and with Mowden under pressure, their number 10 scored a try in the last play to give them a win 12-15.

How Mowden did not win the game in the first half is a mystery. How they lost it in the second half is not.

With Ciaran Ritchie, being at the plays and giving clean ball, he managed to do enough for back of the match, although all backs performed well, hopefully lack of match play meant rustiness prevented more scores.

As to the forwards, they worked hard, but Westoe did have plenty of ball at the breakdowns with perhaps more determination to secure the ball, however, one drive in the first half saw Mowden move a good 30 metres, only for Westoe to hold it up and get the scrum.

JohnA did just enough with strong runs and alertness around the rucks and mauls to win forward of the match.