Pool Just Fall Short Despite Late Rally At Whitby

The visitors made several enforced changes from the victory over Ryton due to a combination of injuries and unavailability.

Pool played down the bank first half and after two minutes Pool nearly opened the try scoring account, Flanker Ivan Moses stole the ball at the ruck and Pool went on the attack with a strong run from Liam Pape, when Pape was stopped , prop Graham Wilson broke through and got within 5 metres of the try line, he unselfishly tried to pass the ball to Jon Carney in support but the try scoring pass was not made and Whitby cleared to the half way line.

After thirteen minutes and a prolonged period of pressure , Whitby took a deserved lead , at the breakdown 10 metres out, a clever reverse pass inside was caught by a maundering prop who scored under the posts . 7-0

Whitby continued to dominated an out of sorts Pool side and 20 minutes into the first half, a catch and drive from a line out resulted in a try in the far right hand side. With the conversion missed the home side led 12-0.

Two minutes later, the Yorkshire side scored the try of the game, a sweeping move which involved several phases saw the number 6 brake through a tackle to score from 30 metres home side, 17-0.

Pool came back into the game and Jon Carney caught Adam Williamson line out throw and the ball was passed along the backs before Keagen Thomas miss pass was caught by Zac Ivey who showed off his finishing skills with a neat try in the far corner. 17-5.

The second half, saw Pool w playing up the bank , however it was Whitby who got the decisive next try, poor tackling allowed the home center to cause damage with a strong run, full back Dylan Thomas eventually halted the run before the home stand off was in support to pick up and dart over the try line. 24-5.

The away side were now coming back into the game and penalty after penalty was awarded to Pool and after the third penalty on the bounce resulted in a Whitby second row yellow carded for persistent off side but as Pool looked to use the extra player advantage, the ball was stolen at the ruck and the ball was cleared 50 meters down field.

Whitby again pressured Pool and slack tackling saw a forward emerge from a pile of bodies at the ruck to dive over for the 5th try. 29-5.

Replacement scrum half Nathan Taylor made an immediate impact with a quick penalty , Keagen Thomas and Dylan Thomas both got in on the act to forcefully take the ball on. When Dylan Thomas was stopped in the tackle, Nathan Taylor feed Alex Winters who put winger Zac Ivey away and again Ivey finished superbly bursting up the left wing. Alex Winter converted the difficult kick. 29-12.

Flanker Jon Carney made a lightning break up the blind side and a deliberate knock on resulted in another penalty to Pool. With Pool looking to speed up the game , Shane Ivey picked up a drove for the try line, when his run was halted , prop Graham Wilson was on hand to power over for his second try in as many weeks. Alex Winters kick brought Pool with 10 points of the hosts. 29-19.

With time running out, Pool had the bit between their teeth and as Pool attacked again , from a line out 10 metres out, Jon Carney provided decent line out ball and he was driven on by the forwards but the home number 8 was yellow carded for being off side at the ruck, again Pool took the penalty quickly and Graham Wilson and Dave Carson White attacked the blind before Ivan Moses put Jon Carney away for a try in the corner. Alex Winter had his kicking boots on the touch line kick sailed through the posts. 29-26.

Pool attacked again deep into injury time and frantically moved the ball from deep in their 22 to up to the home 22 but as Pool looked to score the all important 5th try, Pool were penalized in the tackle for not releasing the ball and the Whitby stand off cleared the ball off the pitch as the referee blew for full time to end a valiant come back. FT 29-26

This week Hartlepool are due to host Darlington on Friday night at Mayfield Park (7.30pm KO).