NORTH 1 EAST
WEST HARTLEPOOL 23 – 10 PERCY PARK
Park travelled to windswept Hartlepool and hats off (in some cases literally), to both sets of supporters for braving the elements, with a couple of woolly hats having to be retrieved from the surrounding shrubbery, but mostly praise should go the players for an entertaining game for the purists. Although conditions dictated that most of the game was trench warfare battled out through the forwards, wind gusting at over 50 mph was as much a hindrance as a help to both sides although Gav Painter for West made use of the tail wind for 2 long range first half penalties.
Park made a few enforced changes to the squad, with Lome Fa’atau, John Scott and Ali Blair all unavailable. After a good showing for the Lions last week, Chris (Tank) Reekie made his season’s debut for the 1st XV in the back row.
West kicked off with a howling gale at their backs and scored first with a Painter penalty. Park responded with try by skipper Andy Dunn after a driving maul from a line out in the home side 22.
Painter then kicked West ahead from inside his own half and could have added to his penalty tally but for the ball being blown off the kicking tee, despite being supported by one of his players.
Kieran Sutherland was unlucky to be yellow carded on 32 minutes after being penalised for handling in the ruck, and West Hartlepool exploited the gap down their right flank as Ryan Painter crossed for the try that was duly converted by brother Gavin.
At half time West led 13 – 5 but faced an up hill struggle against the wind for the second half. Their cause was hampered further 2 minutes into the second period when number 8 Sam Miller was sin binned. This seemed to galvanise the West pack who kept the ball tight and didn’t ship any points whilst a man down.
The visitors did score however when fly half Paul Spowart crossed the try line after a group of players were pushing and shoving one another off the ball. The conversion was missed, but the deficit cut to 13 – 10.
A couple of miss directed clearance kicks by Park failed to find touch and West came back and eventually scored their second try of the game as Greg Edwards went through a breach in the Park defences.
West upped their game and although both their scrum and line out were under kept the ball well through the forwards starving Park of meaningful possession.
Both sides were reduced to 14 as Painter and Hedley were yellow carded for petulant pushing and posturing in front of the referee, but West finished the game with a try from Jack Angus shortly before the end to seal the victory.
Park were disappointed not to at least come away with a losing bonus point and slip one place to seventh in the league.
Next week Park entertain Beverley at Preston Avenue for the final home league game of 2015.