Official West Hartlepool RFC

What team (excluding injuries) would people like to see take the field on the first league game? I personally would like to see:-

1 Anth Carr
2 Liam Bailey
3 Jon Norris
4 Tom Dixon
5 Chocky Davies
6 Dan Boatman
7 Jon Boatman
8 Gareth Eddy
9 Gareth Foreman
10 Stu Waites
11 Adam Larkin
12 Gav Robinson
13 Andrew Foreman
14 Darren Thomas
15 Luke Watson

16 Carlo Robinson/ Ste Stockdale
17 Michael Taylor
18 Ryan Painter

It will be exactly the same as last season 1 to 18

It can't be as Jon Boatman is having an operation according to this website.
In any case from what I saw on Saturday there are some strong new contenders as well as one or two second team players who did themselves no harm.

Competition for places = success.

oh sorry forgot about jonny, but it will be nearly exactly the same as last year.

Carlo Robinson? Thought he had retired as well.

1. Nogger
2. Bailey
3. Coatsy
4. Dicko/benjy lloyd
5. Gareth Eddy
6. Chunk
7. D Boatman
8. Eddy/ Stocker
9. A foreman
10. G Foreman
11. A larkin
12. G Robinson
13. L Watson/ A Cheslin
14 C Cheslin/ Dash
15 S Waites

16. M Hogan
17. C Young
19. R Painter

The front row will be tested this season, especially the younger players! Coates struggled last year in that league so hopefully he can step up this season. Norris will be a good addition depending on fitness and hogan the same. The addition of eddy and Taylor will help the scrum but I think bigger front row players will be needed e.g carr and Robinson if available.

Jonny boatman will also be a big loss and I just hope the back row can be re arranged to perform as well as it as in previous seasons.

As for picking a team I can't agree with it being exactly the same as last seasons especially in the pack after the first few games.

The backs are solid and there shouldn't be much change there as long as the centres stay strong and keep good form throughout the season.

As we seem to have plenty of strength in depth in the back row Stockdale may be played at prop again as at the start of last season

Stockdale isn't the strongest scrummager though Soo I cant see that being a step in the right direction. Up against a stronger from row which is highly likely in a better league he will struggle. Would like to see Coates and hogan step up to the plate.

Stockdale made a big difference last season and scored some very valuable points.

yes he did but it wasnt from the front row

Stockdale not a stong scrummager?
Give your head a shake pal.

Didn't dispute the points he scored. Great ball carrier just not a prop. Plus in the higher leagues running at people isn't as effective. Tackling is much stronger and the hits are bigger.

I witnessed many occasions when he struggled in the scrum. U must have been watching another game. And like I said against much tougher opponents he'll struggle even more. Along with other props at the club.

Why Soo defensive anyway dogtrack? Gave my head a shake by the way doesn't seem to have made a difference to what I think.

He is probably the worst scrummager in and around the 1st team. Give the lad some ball and he makes the hard yards but scrummager no.

Oooooopsy, seems I'm not the only one who thinks this dogtrack :)

Knowing stocker, he will be looking to take criticism on here into his scrummaging this season if that's where he plays! I doubt there is many 'great' prop/back row players in any league! You wouldn't like him when he's angry!!

Would hardly call myself an expert on scrummaging but I think some of the criticism is probably over the top. I only raise the point as Stockdale was one of our best players last season and with extra competition in the back row it'll be interesting to see how selection goes. I'd like to see him starting (somewhere) - as WPA said some of his tries last season were crucial.

It's all about opinions, innit?
By "soo defensive", I presume you mean "so defensive", to which the answer would be that I am not being defensive, just expressing an opinion.
Some agree, some don't.
"Oooooopsy" ... is that grown-up talk?

Some of his tries last year were crucial I totally agree.

Point taken.....there isn't many great props/back row players in any league but u have to be at a level where you can be competitive in each area to progress. I just dont think at that level he'll cope in the front row.

Ha! Dogtrack you are typical. You lost an argument take it on the chin. Also, to go as low as picking up on someone's grammar mistakes you must have a very boring and time rich life.

'innit'.. real grown up.

Who says I lost? You?
We disagreed ... neither of us won or lost, unless there was some sort of vote I didn't notice?
Keep up the good work.

PS - is it fair to discuss the pros and cons of individual players here? It could be counter-productive couldn't it?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 21/08/2011 11:55 by Dog Track.