Match Report: Hartlepool 41 - 8 Barnard Castle

Pool playing up the Mayfield Park bank , were forced to defend for the first ten minutes of the game as the visitors threw the ball around in an expansive fashion . Barnard Castle deservedly took the lead after fifteen minutes when the home team were penalised at the break down and the penalty was despatched, 0-3.

Pool finally secured some possession and immediately showed their cutting edge , from a line out ten metres out , Captain for the day Jon Carney , provided clean off the top line out ball and Adam Ainley, who was a late addition to the squad following the result of a negative PCR test, fed the backs. Play was reversed and Ryan Wilson drew in two defenders before passing to veteran prop , Graham Wilson who finished in some style. 5-3.

Pool were soon on the offence again and the pin point line out throw from Lewis Dawson-Weatherill found Jon Carney in the line out and quick ball saw live-wire scrum half Tazz Pelser dart pass two defenders for a superb individual try .

The touchline conversion was narrowly missed by Lewis Wilson and Pool lead 10-3.

In a purple patch for Pool , the Mayfield Park side soon added a third try , the home side attacked the blind side and Graham Wilson drove the ball purposely forward before Tazz Pelser fed Dean Dickson in support and his pass to Ryan Wilson saw the second row left with one defender to beat and he showed great guile to out pace the final defender and score in the corner . 15-3.

With thirty five minutes on the clock , Pool secured the all important four try and bonus point , the home scrum shoved the visitor eight off the ball and quick hands saw winger Alex Winter finished superbly from 20 metres barging past two defenders. Lewis Wilson added the extra points , 22-3.

Deep into injury time , Pool added a fifth try , stand off Adam Ainley , ghosted past his opposite number to score under the posts . Lewis Wilson conversion was true and Pool lead 29-3.

The second half saw Pool on the attack again and as the maroons applied pressure, four consecutive penalties were awarded as the visitors hung on, following a quickly taken penalty by Tazz Pelser, Keagen Thomas long pass was expertly finished by full back Lewis Wilson . Wilson then converted his own try . 36-3.

After a period of pressure by the improving visitors , they scored a well deserved try when the backs and forwards combined before the winger scored in the corner for a fine team try . 36-8.

Pool finished the game in style and Ryan Wilson capped a man of the match performance with his second try to leave the final score try , 41-8.