The Centurions lifted the Northumberland County Cup after a tough final against their Newcastle opponents at the neutral venue of Morpeth on a beautiful spring afternoon.

They got off to the perfect start with flankers Ethan McLeod and Kael Horton scavenging ball on the half-way line. Sam Richardson cleverly switched play to full back Donald Stembridge who set off on one off his now trade-mark side-stepping runs to touch down under the posts allowing Andrew Murray a simple conversion.

Instead of using this springboard a lack of discipline, that continued throughout the game, allowed West End to gain field position as penalty after penalty was conceded. From short range one of their big forwards burst through a weak defensive line to score.

Tynedale responded in style with the front row of Rory Craney, Brogan Millar and Ed Weir handling well to take the ball away from their much heavier counterparts. The powerful Oliver Hillary drove close and Richardson again found Stembridge who crossed from ten metres. Number 8 Rhys Loughead, although restricted mainly to defensive duties, then had one of his typical rumbustious bursts from half-way and Ian Charlton and Jason Armstrong supported to produce good ball. This move eventually allowed Stembridge to glide over and complete a fine hat-trick. Murray knocked over the conversion and this looked like a comfortable lead.

The Newcastle side lifted their game and just before half-time took a short tap penalty. This time a defensive shift was more resolute but the extra weight of the West End pack took the ball over the line to make the score 19-12 with the conversion.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw West End in the ascendancy with several Tynedale replacements taking time to settle in and a rising penalty count allowing them territorial postion. Trying to run out of defence a dropped ball allowed an alert winger to level the scores. Had it not been for some excellent defending by Jonny Pape, Michael Ramsay, Callum Foxcroft and Ed Coffey close to their own line, the final could have been lost in this period.

Riding this storm, the experience of Joe Northwood and fly-half Murray settled things down and a fine run from his own half by Martyn Hutton signalled a turning of the tide. An powerful tackle from Hillary allowed Ryan Laverty a try-scoring opportunity that was let down by a fall as he turned inside the full-back. Luckily support was on hand and skipper Jake Sloan dived over from close range.

The final try was scored after a determined burst from Hugh Holland-Creaven. Northwood and Murray continued the good work to link with Hillary who crashed over under the posts. Murray added both conversions to give the scoreboard a flattering look that doesn't reflect the efforts of their tenacious opponents.

This Cup victory was a fitting climax to a season that started slowly but gained momentum into 2022. It is as a result of the character and determination of a large squad some of whom, for various reasons, couldn't play in the final but fully deserved to take part in the celebrations after this last game of the season.