Westcliff make final after tough semi battle

11:58am Tuesday 18th March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

WESTCLIFF moved into the final of the Essex Intermediate Cup with a 34-27 success, but were made to fight all the way by a Brentwood side that had already pushed them close before losing a league match earlier in the season.

Westcliff saw how dangerous it would be to give away penalties when the Brentwood kicker fired his side into a three-point lead with an effort from 45 metres.

Westcliff had been forced to make changes because of injuries and Jeremy Walmsley played in the centre instead of his normal back row of the scrum position.

This did not seem to make much difference to his determination and he was on hand to break the cover for a try converted by Warren Duff.

Brentwood defended well for a long time, and gradually forced Westcliff back and with another penalty goal brought the score to 7-6.

Brentwood then added a converted try, but Westcliff saw great work by the backs, in which Jeremy Walmsley was prominent, end with Paul Radley getting in at the corner for an unconverted effort.

Westcliff were not having the best of it at this time and the visitors looked strong.

But the home side buckled down and set up a grinding upfield attack.

Scrum-half Garrick Cowley then took the ball from the back of a scrum and ran up the blind side, bamboozling Brentwood's cover and leaving his team-mates standing.

The try went unconverted, but Westcliff now led 17-13.

However, a howler in defence let the visitors in. A low pass out of defence was hacked on into the arms of a Brentwood player moving at speed.

The defence was beaten, the try scored and converted, and that put Brentwood 20-17 ahead.

Both sides were feeling the pace but did not wilt. A charged down kick out of defence gave Jeremy Walmsley his second try and Warren Duff's successful conversion put the home side in front.

Duff was on target again a few moments later with a penalty goal and then a superb attack tore through the Brentwood defence and Radley got his second try, again converted by Duff.

Westcliff still had to be on their guard as the visitors had by no means finished and scored the final points with a converted try.