Westoe Awards
May
A KIWI who brought extra pep to an already formidable Westoe pack has received a plaudit from his fellow players.
Flanker Kerry Wood was recruited from Driffield before the season’s start but because of a knee injury did not make his debut until the sixth North One game at Cleckheaton when he came on as a replacement and immediately impressed with his tenacity and mobility.
He always wanted the ball and knew what to do with it, clearly demonstrated by his 11 league and 5 cup tie touch downs which put him well ahead of the other leading try scorers, wing James Fitzpatrick (10), centre Johan Saaiman (9) and number 8 Graeme Smith (8).
His arrival was particularly fortuitous as a string of niggling injuries had forced the splendid David Bowyer to withdraw from the scene after wearing the number 7 jersey with such distinction for the past six years.
And there is no doubt that Wood’s contribution played an important part in sustaining Beacon Electrical (NE) Ltd-sponsored Westoe’s promotion ambitions until Huddersfield narrowly beat them to the runners-up spot.
His deserved reward was to be chosen as the Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards dinner, regarded as the greatest tribute because it was bestowed by his peers.
There is another powerful reason for Westoe and its supporters to be mighty grateful to the affable and likeable Wood - it was he who persuaded his fellow countryman Sam Rasch to come to Wood Terrace from Canterbury in January.
And the fly half’s masterful place kicking which brought him 25 conversions, nine penalties and two drop goals in just 11 league and cup outings - as well as his deft all round skills - added a new dimension to the Shieldsmen’s game.
The good news is that both plan to don the dark blue, sky blue and red jerseys again this coming season.
Chairman John Tighe said: “There are certainly a dynamic duo and great acquisitions on the field who have also blended easily into a harmonious team set-up off it.”
Captain Gareth Nesbit’s choice as First XV Player of the Year was David Haswell who for several seasons has been an inspirational presence in the backs both in attack and defence.
Coach Rod McLure, charged with transforming the Seconds into a academy side, chose as his top player the captain Rob Lamb who he praised for his unstinted commitment to that cause and his own game.
Versatile forward John Gregg’s consistently fine form earned him the Third team title and Sean Ramsey, reprising his father John’s scrum half skills, was the Fourth team choice.
