New Brighton 37 West Park(St Helens) 0

 

Report by Stephen Owen

Team: 15. Luke Thompson, 14. Vincent Dutton, 13. Sean Ellis, 12. Matthew Hale, 11. Tom Cubbin, 10. Simione Mafi, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Simon Hill, 2. Phil Buckley (Capt), 3. Tevita Haunga, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Jez Lamb, 6. Kenny Boyd, 7. George Sale, 8. Stuart Gratton
Replacements: 16. Keith Mahon, 17. Joseph Cardus, 18. Gareth Simpson

A minutes silence was observed before the kick off in memory of long standing member of New Brighton Football Club (RU), Bill Staniford.

The occasion of the Past Players’ Reunion ensured a healthy crowd were also able to digest President Ben Basterfield’s programme notes which emphasised the importance of this game to New Brighton. Ninety minutes and seven tries later New Brighton were no better placed in the league but had secured a confidence building victory and two potentially crucial bonus points to go with the three for the win.

The early omens were promising as a tap penalty taken by the influential Mafi at stand off was fed to Haunga and on to scrum half Alan Hesketh who opened the try count with an extravagant Chris Ashton style dive over the whitewash. Shortly afterwards a chargedown by skipper Phil Buckley saw play switched again by Mafi resulting in a second try for Alan Hesketh.

New Brighton were warming to the task and exerting pressure which might have lead to further scores but for the final pass to be lacking. With a penalty chance missed and the forwards driving their opponents back in the set piece scrums, a planned move from a tap penalty saw Mafi feed flanker George Sale who stretched over to give the Blues a comfortable half time lead.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 15 – 0 West Park(St Helens)

The second half saw the injured Simon Hill replaced by Joe Cardus with Gaz Simpson replacing Luke Thompson. The pattern of the game soon resumed with New Brighton continuing where they had left off with Mafi orchestrating sweeping crossfield moves which West Park struggled to contain. To their credit, whenever they had the ball West Park attempted to run it and defended manfully when New Brighton threatened their line.

The game then seesawed back and forth as the award of a yellow card saw New Brighton reduced to fourteen men and both teams attempting to run from deep. Although entertaining to watch, the home side were frustrated at being unable to turn possession and pressure into points as first, Gaz Simpson and then Kenny Boyd were stopped just short of the West Park line. Such pressure that was exerted however, lead to the West Park No 8 being sin binned and shortly afterwards, Keith Mahon came on to replace Paul Roberts for New Brighton.

The last twenty minutes then saw the Blues gaining their reward for continual pressure and enterprising running rugby. New Brighton stand off Simione Mafi who had a fine game fed Matt Hale who in turn fed fellow centre Sean Ellis who scored to make it 20 – 0. With their tales now up New Brighton turned on the style with the ever dangerous winger Vinnie Dutton cutting his way through to the West Park 22, the ball was taken on by the hard working front rower Haunga and the Mafi, Ellis combination did the rest with a second try for Sean Ellis.

Straight from the restart hard running back rower Kenny Boyd offloaded to Sean Ellis who scored his third try of the afternoon. With New Brighton now totally in control, Mafi, Haunga and Jez Lamb all combined to create a final try which went to another member of the front row union, Joe Cardus. Neither side had scored from a place kick of any type all afternoon when New Brighton stand off Mafi then placed the ball for the conversion, turned his back to goal and brought the house down as he promptly backheeled the ball over the bar!

Final Score: New Brighton 37 – 0 West Park(St Helens)

 

Speaking after the game George Probert expressed his satisfaction with the performance, the result and gaining a bonus point. In addition, George spoke for many when he said that it had been an encouraging result on a day when New Brighton welcomed Past Players and remembered a true gentleman and long standing member, Bill Staniford.