West Leeds RUFC prepare for Vase clash

West Leeds RUFC take the hopes of Yorkshire into their first game in the RFU Senior Vase competitionn this season, writes Glenn Broadbent.

The Blue Hill Lane club will take a massive following to Barnard Castle for the first meeting of the two clubs with two coach loads leaving the club at 10.30am and many more supporters make their own way.

Durham and Northumberland Castle have lost only three times this season, two of those defeats being to the other team in the Yorkshire and North East section Rockcliffe Whitley Bay (who Wests play on February 27, at Blue Hill Lane).

The winners of the round robin section going on to play the winners of the Lancashire and North West section.
The flat caps will be out again – a theme the club carried with them last season – and the whippets will be in the Kennels.

Wests reached last season’s final at Twickenham beating Hartlepool, Rockcliffe Whitley Back, Liverpool Collegiate and Melton Mowbray on the way.

Castleford RUFC V West Leeds RUFC 5-57

This week saw West Leeds travel to bottom of the table Castleford at Willowbridge Lane. Castleford were promoted last season from Yorkshire Division Three and are finding the step up difficult. Despite this they continue to play an attacking game and have never been embarrassed by the score line this season.

This game could have been tricky for the visitors but in the end only storm Gertie got in the way of another landslide victory.

Two early tries from Jack Marshall both converted by Breakwell set the scene for the afternoon and when Gareth Stokes try was converted by Breakwell on 20 minutes to make it 0-21 the contest was all but over.

Damien Person added another five points and Breakwell converted 0-28 Captain Sam Neave took the lead to 0-33 just before half time.

Pearson was at it again not long after the re-start and Breakwell was back to his best with another conversion. 0-40.
George (The Tipster) Carpenter then came in with a converted try, his contribution at Castleford being much more useful than his advice for the Doncaster race meeting. 0-47.

James Damarell got his name on the score sheet with a try 0-52.

As the weather took its toll and hands were turning blue Castleford got over the line but failed to convert the try. 5-52.

Jack Marshall rounded the game off with his third try making the final score 5-57.

Another convincing win and all round team performance and West Leeds head into next week’s visit to Barnard Castle in the National Cup.