Hartlepool Hit The Bullseye On Way To Third Consecutive Win

The home side made one enforced change to the starting fifteen with John Osborne coming in for Andrew Small. The Pool Captain has been unable to shake off a neck injury that has plagued him in recent weeks.

In muddy wet conditions , the home side playing up the field first half, settled first and scored after three minutes, Pool had a scrum just inside the Whitby half and a training ground move saw Pool number 8, Shaun Strudwick pick up and draw in the back row before quick hands saw Adam Ainley ship the ball wide to winger Alex Winter who finished well motoring past his opposite man . His conversion clipped the post but bounced through the posts for the extra two points 7-0.

Pool were taken the game to the visitors and centre Keagen Thomas cut through the defense and when he was eventually stopped, flanker Liam Pape picked up but a fine tackle held him up as he crossed the try line.

Adam Williamson pin point line throw was caught by Jon Carney and quick ball off the top saw the ball thrown wide and four attacking phases later Andy Foremam broke from the ruck 10 metres out to pass to Adam Ainley who danced past the full back. Alex Winter had his kicking boots for the additional points. 14-0.

Half way through the first half, Liam Pape attacked the blind side and Shaun Strudwick was in support , Pool then cut loose and quick hands in the backs saw all the backs handle before Dylan Thomas stretched the defense with Jon Carney then finishing well. Alex Winter 3rd conversion was true and the score was extended to 21-.0

25 minutes on the clock. , Pool were putting the visitors under tremendous pressure and a clearance down the field was expertly field by Alex Winter, he then skipped passed the first defender before spotting a gap in Whitby's ranks and his kick over the top was caught and he showed great strength to brush off a last gasp tackle to score to the right of the posts and claim the bonus point for the 4th try. 26-0

On the stroke of half time, the visitors scored a deserved converted try, a series of forward tries saw the ball moved up the field for score under the posts.26-7.

Pool were made to work hard at every break down but manged to craft 4 further tries in a combative second half.

50 minutes, Pool moved the ball from right to left across the park with scrum half Andy Foreman orchestrating play and he found a yard of space to beat the full back and score under the posts. Winter's conversion nudged the score to 33-7 .

Pool were in control and typical barnstorming run by Shaun Strudwick saw him take the ball forceful on and the ball was quickly recycled by the forwards before the ball was spun wide and Adam Ainley attacked the open side before full back Dylan Thomas joined the line and as he accelerated through the gap created by Ainley. Thomas was tackled by the last defender but he managed to find Brian Osland in support. 38-7.

Jon Carney scored his 2nd try and Pool's 7th try as the game entered the fourth quarter, Alex Winter kick stretched the lead to 45-7.

With five minutes to go , Tom Johnson took a quick penalty and great charge by Jon Osborne saw him stopped 5 meters from the try line but as he was tacked he had time to flip the ball to Andrew Foreman who was on hand to score the 8th try. The touch line conversion was missed to leave the final score at 50-7.

Hartlepool will be looking to make it four games on the bounce when they take on Darlington at Billingham's Greenwood Road ground under the lights on Friday night (7.30pm KO).