Official West Hartlepool RFC

West 21 Rovers 3

Westoe II 12 Stags 10

3Ams 12 Stockton II 7

Believe Stags lost with the last kick of the game, where Westoe fielded a number of their 1st team players.



Post Edited (12-01-08 17:17)

Wekl done on another victory West, hope for a similar scoreline next week :)

Can't wait for the match report, been at work all day so missed match :(

Old Crocs 3 Morpeth 13

Horden 18 - 13 Sandal

I was at the Westoe Game today and I understand that there was 2 1st team players playing. A centre who had been away and was looking for match fitness and a prop who came off the bench so "a Number of 1st Team Players" is tecnically correct but that number would be 2

Dont be stupid, they had more than 2 first team players playing, seeing as how the team was radically different to the one we played earlier this season.

But anyway great performance from the lads today and yeah we got beat but the defence was brilliant and they never crossed the line. Just shows the commitment the lads have. Cant single any one out today but to see everyone smiling during the match was great.

The try we did score was down to the forwards, great drive from a lineout outside the 22 ended up Hendo scoring near enough on touch line.

There is a great team spirit in the Stags at the minute and i just want to thank the subs who never got a game today. The likes of Stu Waites, Armo etc. Cheers for the support lads.

Something which has also failed to have been pointed out is that Westoes new import, a New Zealander, played at fly half and from all accounts ran the game.
But then maybe they imported him to play for their 2nds.

Like your new signings then?

The one player that can be decribed as a 1st team player was the inside centre & has just come back from holiday & hasn't played since mid December. & used to play for West when you were in National 1.

The regulations of the RFU require our New fly half to play at least one game in a lower side before he is allowed to play a league game for our 1st team, hence yesterday's appearance for the 2nd team.

3 other players have played for our 1st team but are now regarded as 2nd team players as they mainly played when other players were injured.

Now I know your not going to accept this but as FRLE has already noted how many of your 2nd team have played for your 1st team?????

Any how let us leave this all to one side and look at yesterday's game, can any one that was there say who was the better side?

My thoughts are that the game was a good contest between both sides & if West had realised earlier in the game that your pack was the stronger & had played like you did in the last 15 minutes then the result could have gone the other way?

I believe that the way that your club has rebuilt itself over the last 4 -5 years is a credit to all concerned, and that the strength of your 2nd team shows that they are able to support your 1st team as & when required.

I look forward to seeing you in North 1 next season, & your top league position is well deserved.

Best wishes for the future.

Phil

In response to the post from PCH, thanks for the praise and the best wishes - much appreciated.

The issue of '1st team' players playing for the '2nd team' is always going to be a contentious one with fluctuations in players form, selection decisions, players returning from injury, etc. From our clubs point of view, and I said this to some of our Stags yesterday, playing against the strongest opposition possible is something that can really help move your game on and is what you should want to be doing every week - that is why we joined the CANDY league. Many of the 'older' players in our club teams, myself included, spent week after week getting hammered against superior opposition as we slid down the leagues. It was a hard school but those who continued to tough it our all became better players for the experience. I for one would not swap those seasons for time in the lower leagues winning easily every week.

Many of our Stags side yesterday will have played first team rugby this season, and playing against stronger opposition rather than weaker opposition will do more for their first team chances and for the development of the younger players. I am sure that the majority of the side enjoyed participating in yesterdays defeat more than some of the easier victories we have had this season.

Cheers,

Slob.

Just for the record I wasn't having a go it was mentioned to show just how far our lads have come this season.

Great performance against a very very good team. The kiwi 10 looks to be a good signing for you.

All best for the season

:oP

I personally really enjoyed saturdays game, it was very evenly matched and it showed us that we can compete with anyone and not need to fear any opposition whether they have played first team or not (most of the stags side if not all would not look out of place in our first team and i am sure would ensure we remained unbeaten). Every single member of the team battled their hearts out which showed in the performance and the result. Westoe had some great players and i would prefer to play those types of games and aggainst the likes of Tyndale, westoe etc week in week out. this would massivly develop all players ensuring that in years to come first second and third teams will be a force to reckon with in the furture. We all just need to not be concerned over who has played for our opposition first team and show that we can compete with them. The clubs future is so bright with all these talented lads coming thru the ranks.

i was incredably proud of the team on saturday as everyones performance was a credit to themselves and the club it was just unlucky we were beaten by the last kick of the game which is inevitable in close matches. Westoe i am sure will not take any west team lightly. Bring on more first teamers playing aggainst the stags and we will show them up as well.

moving into CANDY League was an excellent move

Definitely. Very good standard from what I have seen. Talking to Tynedale officials the other week they said they appreciated us being in the league because of the quality of our play.

How long did it take to write that lot Chummers? And you need a new spell checker!
But I do agree with you.