Prudhoe & Stocksfield 22 vs 17 West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B

West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B had been unable to raise a team for the previous week’s game against Wallsend so it was pleasing that they turned up at Stocksfield with a full side with several substitutes. However had all their players taken the field they would of not of had an answer to the third minute try scored by the long striding Yannick Debil. Steven Henderson’s conversion took the score from 5 to 7 points. Five minutes later it was a Rob Reid break that was well supported with the ball passing through three or four pairs of hands before Dan Whiley was able to cross the line extending the lead to 12-0. Another 4 minutes and there were a further 7 points with Henderson darting through close to the posts then converting his own try.
So thirteen minutes played; nineteen points scored. Just like last week an express start but three tries up and the opposition came to life. They spoilt, they blocked, they caused P&S to fluff their catches and lose their rhythm. It was no surprise when on the thirty minute mark the home side were unable to hold a rolling maul which was touched down under the posts to bring the score back to 19-7.

Before the eventual end of the half it would get worse. In the 46th minute the referee had a clear sight of Whiley's attempted clearing kick which struck the hands of an approaching Hartlepool player. The ball skidded across the field to be picked up by a P&S player. The ref blew his whistle and to the bemused visitors and an astonished home crowd awarded a penalty to Hartlepool having adjudged the P&S player to have been in an offside position whilst completely ignoring the fact that a Hartlepool player had touched the ball. Needless to say the visitors scored from the penalty and the whilst the half time whistle did blow some two minutes later there was an air of disbelief at the 19-12 score line.

The second half was largely very forgettable with the home side unable to put any fluid rugby together. The loss of Debil to a leg injury and skipper Chris Patterson to a cut below the eye undoubtedly impacted on the home side.

The penalty count for both sides was far too high, but one of a number of high tackles allowed Steven Henderson to add three points to the P&S tally. Three minutes later the visitors managed another try to match the home sides three. Prudhoe eventually managed to regain some composure to successfully see out the rest of the game.

With the final score at 22-17 P&S have lessons to learn and whilst it is easy to say they must accept that not all referees will afford them the sort of protection they should have and where a side sets out to spoil and disrupt; keeping to the game plan is essential.

On the plus side the first fifteen minutes were very good and it was a win plus the spirit within the club is very good. An increased player pool is giving real strength on the field whilst off the field the support and camaraderie sees the club in a healthy state.