Inept display by Park

Vale of Lune 11

THIS defeat - the first time West Park Bramhope have been nilled this season - was due to a totally inept display by the home side.

Their performance gave a fired up Vale of Lune side the chance to leapfrog them in the Thwaites North Two table and go ahead of West Park on points difference.

On a blustery and bitterly cold day the visitors, in spite of losing one of their props through injury at the first scrum, took command.

Fly-half Cadman slotted over a penalty in the opening few minutes as West Park, playing into a strong wind, were unable to get out of their own 25 and committed an infringement.

A second penalty gave Vale of Lune the position from which to launch a sustained attack on the home line and a blindside move ended with flanker Wallbank scoring in the corner.

Cadman missed the conversion but was able to add a second penalty and extend the lead to 11-0 after just 20 minutes.

The home side were struggling to find any rhythm in the heavy conditions and, as the ground began to cut up, they seemed unable to find a cohesive pattern.

Because of the conditions, whenever they tried to move the ball away from the central area play inevitably broke down and Vale of Lune were able to take possession.

The visitors, although limited in their approach, stuck to a simple game plan, keeping the ball tight in the forwards, frustrating the home pack and the half ended with no change to the scoreline.

With the wind at their backs, a lot was expected of West Park, but they couldn't make any headway in the mud.

Their efforts were then dashed another blow when hooker Paul Minns was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury, prop David Hayle and then skipper Howard Greenwood being forced to take the throw at the line-outs.

Second rower Eugene Grimes was the pick of the side but even his efforts couldn't stir the rest into action.

Indeed, the visitors controlled long periods of the half and the worrying aspect of the game was that West Park never really threatened to put points on the board except when Andy Stewart intercepted a sloppy Vale of Lune pass and was able to make some yards, only for play to eventually break down without any real advantage.

Coach Howard Greenwood has plenty to ponder as West Park have a weekend off as their opponents Driffield are playing their NPI Cup tie and Park's Yorkshire Cup opponents Hull Ionians have a league fixture.

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