Heughers 75 - 5 Hartlepool A

The Heughers had a large experienced squad available for their first Candy League game of the season at home to local rivals Hartlepool A who have entered the Candy league this season. Perhaps the large squad was connected to the fact it was team photo day with the lads looking resplendent in their Stainton Lighting and Design sponsored warm up tops. Thanks to Anthony Smith for sponsoring the Heughers again and to Jock Johnson for taking the pictures. Pity about the chubby chap on the end and doesn't Joe Little look huge? Does anyone else think he looks like Brienne of Tarth?

The game kicked off in front of a largish crowd with some very vocal support from the Ladies section. The Heughers quickly got into their stride and raced ahead with a succession of good moves and ultimately tries which went something like this

5-0 Michael Railton with a blast up the wing
10-0 Anthony Hanley takes the restart at full tilt and makes ground for Johnny Cushlow to crash over the white line. No try is given though as Cush has grounded the ball on the 5 metre line. Nobody mocks or laughs. At all. Handbag subsequently finishes off over the real try line.
15-0 Ryan Hodgson gets his debut try for the club (and I bet it will be the first of many if he continues his development) by finishing off a good move. From the restart Ryan takes the ball at pace and races upfield only to throw a pass so far forward it wouldn't have been out of place in American Football.
22-0 Michael Railton gets his second. Faced with a choice of running through three defenders or giving an easy pass to Ryan Hodgson guess which option Michael chooses?
29-0 Jack Gunn uses his pace and power to get through the Old Boys line
36-0 Joe Little makes a 40 metre break for a fine try. Barney kicks the 3rd ball in a row over the fence into the horses' field and a short delay occurs while replacements are sought

HT Rovers Heughers 30 - 0 Hartlepool A

Multiple changes are made at half time including virtually a full back line. Tony Ross isn't allowed to continue as they are his horses in the field and he is sent in to retrieve the missing balls.

43-0 Joe Little also gets his second try by forcing his way over. Chris Sainty takes over the kicking
43-5 Old Boys get some reward for their never say die attitude with a well worked try up the wing after exerting pressure on the Heughers' line
48-5 Grandy finishes off a spell on the away line by powering through the Old Boys pack.
55-5 Grandy now moves to scrum half and makes a try for Barney to finish off and convert
62-5 Squid has been like a coiled spring since came on at half time and Chris Sainty engineers a gap for Squid to run through and score rather than into anyone with an Old Boys shirt on.
69-5 Grandy's rugby brain is as sharp as ever and he takes a quick penalty to himself catch the Old Boys defence out for his brace and the final try of the game.

FT Rovers Heughers 75 - 5 Hartlepool A

The observant amongst you will have noticed a difference in the scores. I had it at 69-5 but the referee gave it as 75-5 so I must have missed some conversions.

First of all credit to Old Boys who had a generally young squad who will only get better and who got stuck in all game. For the Heughers this was another win over local rivals after beating the Stags a fortnight ago. With 24 players turning out this augers well for the season coming as long as everyone who can makes themselves available. This was a good all round performance and while there were many changes made to give game time to everyone the replacements were all of a high standard and didn't weaken the team at all. We did end up with an unusual back row of Jack Gunn, AJ and Pip mind to give them more of a run out. Congratulations to Nathan Rayner and Johnny Stoddart who had their first competitive games for the club. Johnny along with his mate Ste Cotson joined Rovers on Thursday and both look big, fit gentlemen. Though Ste did mange to get injured in his first training session :-(

Man of the match for me was Anthony Hanley with an aggressive, athletic all round game complemented by being a prolific source of lineout ball.

Next week we are away to Horden which is always a tough game

Squad

M Railton, S Railton, R Harrison, Hodsgon, Gunn, Addision, Grand, Sewell, Wright, Dixon, Barnfield, Sainty, AJ, Ross, Cushlow, Squid, Healey, Saunders, Rayner, Power (c), Stoddart, Little, O'Callaghan, Hanley