Now everything is set up very nicely for the final game for a massive day for Hartlepool rugby.

Rovers have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation by jumping above Carlisle and Old Crocs. They'll be a desperate for a win next week - but won't get any favours as we look to maintain our unbeaten home league record. The coaches and players are also keen to make sure we win the league on points won rather than points difference.

But we can go into that game off the back of another excellent team performance set up by a dominant pack.

Gateshead fought all the way, on a muddy and slippery pitch, in a game punctuated by stinging rain and hail showers.

The home side went in to an early lead, thanks to a penalty 25 metres out, but Paul Moss restored equilibrium after five minutes with a kick of his own.

Once again the referee [Derek Blake standing in for a Lakeland Society official] penalised us frequently - an issue which will cost us more dearly in a higher league. David Kell missing one chance for the home side before we finally got the pack rumbling.

We drove deep into the home 22 and the ball was quickly moved out right where Rob Thorn dived in at the corner. Moss was narrowly wide with his kick.

Kell narrowed the gap to 2 points after 22 minutes, after yet another penalty, but Gateshead were never threatening the West line and the lead was soon extended.

West pressure up the left took us to within ten metres of the line and, when the pack finally released the ball, Dave Tighe found Paul Moss with a delightful short pass and Mossy gratefully galloped through a gap to give himself an easy conversion.

Rob Thorn spurned one chance, spilling the greasy ball on the line, before Kell slotted another penalty after 36 minutes to make it 9-15 at the break.

West began the second half still trying to play flowing rugby despite the increasingly heavy rain and sleet. It brought quick rewards. Gateshead were forced into defending on their line and a great surge by the pack saw the excellent Tom Dixon get the first of his tries which Mossy easily converted.

Paul Rudd was having a highly productive afternoon at No 8 and one of his gallops resulted in a penalty just outside the 22 which took the score to 9-25 - a comfortable looking two score margin.

The home side were continuing to make the game competitive but the West pack always had the edge. Tom Dixon rounded off a great catch and drive to make it 9-30 and then, in the last minute, Colin Cheslin - on for brother Andrew - went in at the corner. Rob Thorn had come ino the midfield to break the home defence before Greg Edwards [a late replacement for Neil Howe who was needed by the Fire Brigade] spun the ball out wide. .

Mail photographer Tom Collins called the lads back out of the dressing room for a gloriously muddy celebration shot - but that was about the extent of the celebrations.

Those are being reserved for next week. The fancy dress costumes have been ordered ....

Gateshead: Cloak, Finlay, Lindsay, Tate, Carr, Tilley, D Kell, McKeown, Douglas, Burns, Carr, Henry, Pluskall, Stevenson, Glendinning Reps: Thandi Huntley,Simpson

West: Painter, Thorn, Hodgson, Edwards, A Cheslin [C Cheslin 73], Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Robinson [Norris 62], Davies [Henderson 70], T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Rudd .