Positive Start

By Dave Picken - August 13 2017
Positive Start
A first half hat trick from Alex Barker got the season off to a great start as the Firsts ran in eight tries against a youthful West Bridgford at Brinkburn. Earlier the Stags had shared ten tries with their counterparts from Nottingham...
Sam Miller west Bridgford

Former Westie Gareth Kerr had his side tackling hard and they had some adventurous backs.

However, a reshaped West team took its opportunities with some excellent support play proving too much for the visiting defence eventually running out 50-5 winners.

 

 With some 24 players missing, for various reasons, it was an opportunity for up and coming players to impress new coach Stu Hardy. A fit looking Alex Barker led the way with his tries in the first twenty minutes with Sam Miller and Gav Painter also looking a class apart.

Quick hands and intelligent offloading led to two tries for Ryan Painter, and others for Andrew Rollings and Matt Siddle.

Mattie  was one of those to feature in both games as did Scott Butcher (right)

Butch is reinventing himself as  back row and was potent with ball in hand in both games.

Rochdale arrive next week for the second warm-up game (kick off 3.00).

They will be in playing in our equivalent league in the North West and should provide a sterner test.

Butcher Stags

 

 
Positive Start
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 13/08/2017 11:46


Re: Positive Start
Posted by: West Park Allotment (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2017 11:24

Noticeable that a few lads looked fitter than they did at the end of last season.
Some of the play was pleasing to watch although I'd like to see a bit more variation in attacking play from the backs.

Re: Positive Start
Posted by: Rozzy 1 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2017 15:35

And hopefully there will be an improvement in the line-out. But there's plenty of time and the handling was top-rate.

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