first league win

West Park..12 Bridlington...8

FINALLY at the 17th attempt West Park Bramhope gained their first league victory of the season. After going close on several occasions during the campaign the joyous scenes at the final whistle said it all.

Visitors Bridlington, notoriously poor travellers, were pinned back immediately as Park, welcoming back scrum-half Glen Kilvington and flanker Eugene Grimes after long absences, tore into them. However, good defence kept them out and on their first sortie into the Park half the visitors took the lead with a Robinson penalty.

Park replied in dramatic style as a loose pass enabled stalwart Brendan French to intercept and race 65 metres for a try in the corner. Jason Whitehead and the elusive Jason Holmes both went close for Park but silly penalties let Bridlington back into the game. From a series of close in line-outs they forged their way over for a try. Half-time came at 5-8.

Bridlington had strong pressure in the second-half but Park's defence led by Ian Moule and Grimes held firm against tactics that can only be described as limited. The winning score came from a curious source. Prop replacement Phil Adams passed to Grimes, who tried to kick on but the ball rolled off his knee, was fly hacked on by Jason Whitehead and dived on over the line by young Sam Woodbridge. Matt Stephens converted to give Park some breathing space.

With Sam Taylor still getting good line-out ball Park kept Bridlington pinned in their own half. As the final whistle went Park celebrated as though they had won the cup but this young side showed the right spirit, which bodes well for next season.

Park is away at Morpeth on Saturday but the Vets, who lost 44-7 at Bramley, play host to Menwith Hill.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.