Maroons Record Fourth Straight League Win

The Maroons went down 73-24 at Talbot Park earlier this season and approached this game with a determination to banish that result to the history books.

The hosts turned out in good numbers for the clash with a 25 man squad and no less than 10 front row players.

Pool started brightly and looked to pin the visitors back in their own half with a series of kicks to the corner. The deadlock was broken when a flat pass from Liam Lester cut out three defenders to release Tyler Hall who showed a clean set of heels to finish the move. The full back was on hand to convert his own try. 7 - 0

Their lead was extended when a loose ball at a line out inside the Acklam 22 was gathered by Ben Drewett. In the same phase of play Lester made a break in behind the visitors defence and offloaded to Thomas Lister who in turn passed to Timmy Din. The young winger beat his opposite number and dove over the whitewash to score. 12 - 0

Rory Craig, Alex Sharp and the front row trio of Kieran Watson, David Carson-White and Drewett all enjoyed strong carries and Pool should and could have extended their lead on a couple of occasions.

Kris Dawson and Jordan Harrison brought further ballast to a much improved set piece, while Connor Braithwaite-Evans and Josh Harper were enjoying impressive games themselves in the loose.

Hartlepool had the lions share of possession and territory throughout the first half but the Talbots reduced the arrears with a quickly taken tap penalty from 8 metres out to score.

HT 12 - 7

The second period carried on much in the same vein as the first with the hosts utilising an effective kicking game to get in behind the visitors. They were rewarded when an accurate box kick to the corner from scrum half Jim Greensmith was fielded by Dean Ryan who showed great poise to run in the first score of the half. 17 - 7

Acklam threatened to get outside Pool and break up the right hand side of the field but strong defensive work from Niall Bains and Shaun Lazzari kept them at bay.

The Maroons made wholesale changes to the pack with Ian Gowland, Liam Turnbull, Scott Gaiety, Michael Francis, Simon Bird and Joe McDonnell entering the fray, with 'Surfer Joe' proving to be an excellent line out option.

A well struck penalty from Hall extended Pool's lead to 20 - 7 before Dean Ryan read a wrap move between the Acklam fly half and centre to intercept the pass and race in unopposed from the half way line. Hall was on point with the extras. 27 - 7

With 15 minutes to go the result looked to be beyond doubt but Acklam had other ideas and laid siege to the home 22. They came away with two tries to make for a tense finish.

18 year old Stephen Smailes showed great maturity having replaced the experienced Greensmith in the number 9 shirt for the latter stages and played his part in helping the hosts see out the game and record a fine victory. FT 27 - 19