Durham County Cup Semi-Final

A clear but blustery day saw Mowden Park meeting a strong Westoe fifteen on their South Shields ground. Westoe chose the wind advantage for the first half, without significant gains until around the ten-minute mark. A gust severely bent a Mowden throw-in, and from the ensuing scrum, aided by some missed tackles, Westoe drove into the Mowden half almost to the 22. A clearance hack upfield was comfortably taken by the Westoe full back, who had an excellent match overall. He made a good swerving run, setting up a fine period of dominance with multiple phases and good, swift recycling by Westoe that eventually saw them score in the corner. The conversion was missed. Mowden were not overawed, and spent much of the next 15 minutes in the Westoe 22. Several fruitless attacks finally saw the ball held up under the posts, and Westoe made a good clearance to the half-way line. Mowden won the throw-in and Jason Elliot made a good aggressive run finishing with a chip forward to the line. Richard Parks collected the throw-in, the maul was set and the ball recycled from the push to the line, allowing Ben Charlton to make one of his characteristic forceful rushes and score 12 metres from the posts. Mark Zissler duly converted. This spurred Westoe on to renewed vigour, and Mowden, aided by several crunching tackles by Chris Dodd, did well to keep them out until half time.

Mowden started the second half with good pressure and some excellent mauling almost seeing Ben Charlton across again by the posts, and finally forcing a 20m. penalty which Mark Zissler kicked, bringing the score to Westoe 5-DMP 10. An uncomfortable period of play followed, with Ben Charlton sidelined after a nasty kick on the ground and a Westoe flanker sin-binned. Mowden could not make the most of the numerical advantage, and the play ebbed and flowed, until, with things back at par, an unfortunate clearance decision gave Westoe the ball just inside Mowden's 22. Mowden were caught not 10 metres at the lineout and Westoe elected to kick into the corner, and set up a try 15 metres in. The conversion gave them the lead for the second and final time. Mowden threw everything at another score and very nearly succeeded though a Mark Zissler penalty kick that frightened the outside of the upright, but Westoe were able to eat up the time. Final score Westoe 12 - Darlington Mowden Park 10. Westoe progress to play Darlington or Houghton-le-Spring in the final.