Official West Hartlepool RFC

Anyone know if the first game is on? Last year they were in the cup.

It is, according to the RFU website Driff are in the same cup comp as us so won't have a cup game until 28th October.

battle of brinkburn! Mark 2!

An easy win for Driffield!

We'll see; always tough up there; should have put them down two years ago to save ourselves a trip.

It will be a much changed driffield team I think.

have you been recruiting heavily?

A few different players

Sadly, a few left, i hear on the grapevine.

Is the fat 8 still there?

Leave Wonderfish alone. There's nowt wrong with carrying a few extra ounces.

Kelly,

Theres a few extra and then a few EXTRA.

At least he ain't as big as Kirto :oP

driff have lost half their backline to hull and hull ionians.... considering that was where their strength lay last season they could be in for a loooong winter

the ferrett predicts them to finish eighth, west to finish third, horden sixth and rovers seventh....

the ferrett knows

I`m intrigued why the ferret reckons West will finish third? Sounds to me like some strong sides have entred the league via promotion and relegation and others have supposedly recruited heavily.

Given that West have apparently lost a couple of good players I cant really see why West will finish any higher than last year.

I also reckon that given the current Rovers squad 7th is a realistic prediction. A bit higher if we can sign another couple of new faces.

I thought we had only lost Thomas?

I think you are correct

Hi, im part of driff club, just like to make few points. It is true that we have lost a number of players to our local rivals, kerry wood has gone back home. But we have 4 or 5 quality 1st team players who missed most if not all of last season all returning from injury. and i presume there will be a couple of overseas players arriving soon. so all is not as bad as it seems down here. Its hard when you bring players up through the minis' etc and when they become quality players they decide to move on to your local rivals!!! But that is rugby. I would to disagree with the ferrits post, and i would think we will be top 4. However, i would presume that every club in the league thinks this and the quality in the league is going to make it a very tough year for every one.

yeah right!!

the ferrett knows

can't blame youthful enthusiasm though

good luck to ya

We in Hartlepool know only too well the frustrations of bringing on junior players only to see them snaffled by other clubs.

Between the 2 Darlington teams they have a large proportion of extremely talented Hartlepudlians in their squads.

I don't think anybody can begrudge players going to other clubs to play at a higher standard which is what our 3 did. All you can hope is that they know what a great club you are and that they will always be welcomed back.

I think clubs can only complain if they go somewhere at the same or lesser level for a bit of cash.

Totally agree Wonderfish, it hurts but thats life these days, weve lost two kiwi"s who have gone to play in Yorks one two leagues lower!