Official West Hartlepool RFC

Hendo in the back row? He told me he was a winger. Cant wait to take the pee out of the lads for this result

think most of the pack were out on the wing for a lot of the game...that was part of the problem!!

Am I surprised?

Made the trip up to Northern to catch only my second game of the season, as I don't get back to Hartlepool that much these days. What a let down! All credit to the home side who are obviously fighting relegation, but West were truly awful, particularly in the second half. Northern literally ran through non-existing tackles at times. I know this was probably an anti-climax after having clinched the league last weekend, but on this evidence we are going to struggle next season. Mention must be made of one of the worst referees I have ever seen, who missed so many infringements from both sides and made one or two bizarre signals which no one understood.

One final observation - in both games I have seen Tim S has been warned by the ref for his constant harrassment from the touchline. In my opinion, it does the team no favours and contributed to the lack of disclipline in this game, particularly in the forwards, with the referee's decisions constantly being challenged.

In response to your post Exiled West.

I think it is a bit harsh for you to comment on Tims touchline antics after only seeing two games. Everyone will agree Tim can get over excited on the touchline but that is because he is pasionate about not only the results but the manner in which we play in! In both the Durham City and Driffield game Tim was calling moves from the touchline with the majority of them ending in tries! I didn't see you coming on here praising him!

We have had a very successful season throughout the club with Tim being not only an integral part the coaching team but has been one of the big players in moving the club forward on and off the field for many years.

The fact is the referee on Saturday threatened to send him off unless he went back to the technical area. At the Old Crocs game at home, the referee took objection to having his decisions questioned. You mention the Driffield game, so it must be at least 3 games that something similar happened. I am not denying that Tim is a passsionate (and successful) coach and a great asset to the club, but I personally prefer the antics of football managers to be kept away from the game.

I mentioned it because I thought it had a bearing on the game on Saturday. There was a lot of ill-discipline from the players, with frequent challenges to the referee's decisions.

Read my post again, I said that Tims input from the touchline was inspirational in both the Durham and Driffield games.

I totally agree that players questioning decisions is wrong and it has been a problem all season but every member of the team is a grown man old enough to make their own decisons! Next season we will need passion and determination so in my opinion keep up the hard work Tim!

Pontee...had this result relegated you I might be able to see where you are coming from but come on, you have a game against Northern this Saturday - if you win you're safe right?

So our result hardly matters, you've got your opportunity on Saturday to settle it one way or the other.

You have to expect results like this at the end of the season when teams have little to play for. We benefited against Cleckheaton - they would have been a much tougher prospect had they had anything to play for in that game. Maybe you were helped by Old Crocs sitting mid-table when you beat them on Saturday?