Pool Move Up To Third Following Ten Try Victory

Pool playing up the bank first half soon but the visitors under pressure and following a strong run by Tazz Pelser play was taken into the Gosforth 22. Pool laid siege to the away teams try line but the defence was strong and organised.

After 6 minutes, Pool finally broke the deadlock, the Northumbrians were penalised for diving in at the scrum, Pool then elected for the scrum and speedy hands in the backs saw centre Keagen Thomas skip past 3 players to score under the posts. He then converted his own try. 7-0.

New signing Shaun Strudwick made inroads into the defence with a strong run which sucked in 3 defenders, Andrew Small at the breakdown picked up and drove on before Adam Ainley released the backs and Brian Osland was stopped on the try line, however Alex Winter was on hand to pick up and dive over for the 2nd try. 12-0.

From the kick off , Liam Pape caught the kick and then set off on a determined run taking the game to the opposition. When Pape was halted, Jon Osborne drove the ball on and Tazz Pelser passed to Jon Carney. The flanker showed a great turn of pace to beat 4 players in a mesmerizing run. 17-0.

In a whirlwind start , Pool claimed the all important bonus point after 18 minutes. Andy Small's side had a scrum on the half way line and Suliano Tubuna angled the scrum which then saw Pelser pass to Keagen Thomas before the centre beat two players to make 40 metres dash before his perfectly weighted pass to Zac Ivey saw the wingers show great speed to score in the corner. 22-0.

Another bout of Pool pressure saw prob Adam Williamson roll off from the back of a maul to power off from 5 meters, Thomas was successful with the conversion 29-0.

30 minutes into the first half, Gosforth showed they hadn't turned up to just make up the numbers and following a line out 22 meters out, the forwards drove on the ball and quick hands saw the winger score in the corner. 29-5.

The Northumbrians were having the best period of the game and great individually piece of the skill saw a great try under the posts for the away side backs. With the conversion added the lead was cut to 17 points. 29-12.

Second half with Pool playing down the bank saw the hosts continue to dominate and Jon Carney went on a lightning break which saw him make 50 metres, aligning hand saw quick hands in the backs with Thomas and Winter causing problems before Michael Smalley picked up at the ruck to score from 10 metres. 36-12.

Pool again opened up from kick off, Smalley caught the kick and passed to Tubuna take the ball on with purposely, before Ainley broke through the defence before passing to home centre Alex Winter, who finished superbly under the posts for the seventh try. 41-12.

The home side backed by a big crowd, saw Pool's eighth try recorded. The forwards were dominating the site pieces and following pressure in the forwards , the ball driven on and Adam Williamson darted over from close range for his second try 46-12.

The Mayfield Park faithful were rewarded with a two-try flourish to the game, Tazz Pelser was running things from scrum half and his quick thinking saw the penalty taken quickly and ten pair of hands later, Jon Carney scored in the corner for a superb team try. 51-12

As the game entered the final ten minutes, the home side went further ahead, Carney soared in the line to secure line out ball and was driven on by Michael Smalley and Shaun Strudwick, before Jon Osborne capped a fine game with a try from close range. Patrick Wilson was narrowly wide with the conversion to leave the final score of 56-12.