Hartlepool A 34 - 24 Heughers

We moved into what is the second half of the Candy League season top of the table while Old Boys were second bottom. However the team we faced bore little resemblance to the side we put 75 points on in the first game of the season and Old Boys fully deserved their win.

Old Boys had the better of the game early on but it was us that took the lead when Couttsy made a break and then drew the last defender in text book fashion to put Woody away. Rugby Ryan Hodgson hit the post with the conversion. Old Boys then manufactured a try out wide and took the lead following a super touchline conversion. We went back in front when Danny Charters snaffled a lineout knock down and had too much pace and power for the home defence with a 70 metre dash for the line. Scott added the conversion. However Old Boys scored another try of their own and, sensibly, added a penalty to stretch their lead. We really should have at least levelled but the ref called Ryan Harrison's pass to Ryan Hodgson forward and the latter's 'try' was disallowed.

HT Hartlepool 'A' 17 - 12 Rovers Heughers

While we had more possession in the second half it was Old Boys who went further ahead when a forward forced his way over. We had several chances and near misses before Matty Lidster (our 3rd hooker of the game) drove through the final home defenders following good pressure. Old Boys took the game out of sight though with the unlikely figure of Neil Stead featuring as a stand in stand off and creating 2 tries. For the first Neil popped a pass to brother Tom who charged over and Neil then repeated the feat to another attacker. With 5 minutes to go Callum Whitehead came on and scored with the final play of the game following a no. 8 pick up. This got him a remarkable hat trick on the day as he had got 2 in the first half for BBOB before coming sniffing for more game time with us.

Hartlepool 'A' 34 - 24 Rovers Heughers

First of all congratulations to Liam Lester and his Old Boys team. The side they put on the pitch fully deserved their victory.

For us a lot of things just didn't click and we need to learn from that and move on. Rather oddly I believe we will extended our lead at the top of the Candy League as we should have got more points from our loss than our rivals will have as I think their games were called off.

There were some positives though. With Ste Cotson, Orrible Kev Stephenson and Lee Clayton taking to the field we extended the number of players used by the Heughers to 76. Though Lee didn't last long before having to leave the field - a case of a premature evacuation. Ste Cotson did well on his debut and looks like he will be a good addition to the club while Kev was voted MOM by Old Boys. Bit of a sympathy vote if you ask me.

And some of the lads got to wear their new Stainton Lighting sponsored sub coats.

Next week we are at Home to Horden

Squad

Harrison, Hodgson, Coutts, Kirton, K Stephenson (S Railton), Squid, Buttery, L Saunders , Harrington, (Healey) (Lidster), Carroll (Cotson), L Clayton (AJ), Power (c), (Stoddard), Ryan (D Smith), Wood, Charters

Sub not used (too cold) Adam Reay