Great performance away against strong West side

Barnard Castle travelled to third placed West Hartlepool knowing they would have to pull out all the stops if they were to take home any league points from the encounter.

Barnard Castle travelled to third placed West Hartlepool knowing they would have to pull out all the stops if they were to take home any league points from the encounter.
They certainly stepped up the mark and some traveling supporters felt that they could have won had the discipline been a bit better controlled in the first half.
Castle’s forwards were dominant throughout but it was the home side that scored first and led with a converted try 7-0. Barney came back hard though and having gained a scrum close to the home line, shunted them back over their own tryline, Rob Stanwix dotting down and Greg Upton converting.
Castle kept then getting into good attacking positions only to squander the opportunity through indiscipline around the tackle area. West soon made them pay with another will-worked score.
Castle though were always in the game and excellent forward pressure create an opportunity for winger Jack Clarke to scoot down the touchline and go over in the corner to level the scores 12-12 at the break.
Despite being hampered by a nasty ankle injury to Dean Bainbridge in the second half, Castle played some of their best rugby with excellent handling and cohesion between the forwards and backs. However it was West that drew further ahead with first a penalty and then another try to lead 22-12 with ten minutes remaining. Castle turned the screw in the final period and thoroughly deserved the final score of the game, Jack Clarke again being the player to drive over the line for a further unconverted try. The result sees Castle maintain their mid-table position with a losing bonus point and sets them up for a home game this coming Saturday against Stockton.