Official West Hartlepool RFC

The Ams entertained a very strong Richmondshire side at Brinkburn. The weather was perfect for a good game of rugby or sun bathing for some.

The game started very strangely with the Ams seeming to give as good as they got from a Richmond side packed full of big mushes (some even bigger than Karlos, but at least theirs was muscle), but a few missed tackles gave Richmond a few early tries.

The Ams started with a new signing (with Strawberry Blond hair, no it ain't ginger) playing at outside centre, and a few other players playing out of position, but needs must. As the half wore on Richmond seemed to grab a hold of the game and ran in a few more with some not so good defending by the Ams.

The second half started with the Ams having the advantage of the wind (well a very gentle breeze). The 2nd half was a much better half for the Ams, Richmond were still strong with having a much bigger set of Giants (you would have thought their parentys had put manure in their shoes as kids) and being able to break a tackle, but the Ams tackling improved greatly and even when missed a tackle enough was done to slow them down enough for the cover to get them. Some bad hands by the Ams outside centre (who had since moved to full Back) saw two wasted opportunities where the winger (Dean I think his name is) would have been through to more than likely score.

The highlight of the match was the Ams consolation score. Some great work by the Ams fullback who was now playing outside centre, riding a few a few tackles who then fed the strawberry blond one and after drawing a couple of men then realised Andrea and Chris's son (sorry don't know his name) to run in nearly under the posts, and a great conversion was added from all of 2 metres to the left hand side of the posts by an enthusiastic Spence.

All in all a better 2nd half than 1st, with the Ams eventually finding some tackling. With better hands in the backline, maybe a couple more tries. Again a very strong Richmond side, who if they put out the same side every week shouldn't really be playing in the social league, they have their reasons and said they didn't know where to start and as most teams, start from the bottom and work your way up, but if that is their regular team don't see why they dropped out of the league.

On a side note the strawberry blond one knowing from my own experiences will be disappointed with his tackling, but at least he lasted the match without either being sick or pulling a hamstring after 20 seconds of each of the previous mentioned occasions, granted he has terrible blisters and will surely now miss the rest of the season.

Craig (I think his name is) at FB in (1st half) was excellent again as he was last week, and Dean on the wing would have maybe had 2 tries if it wasn't for the handling of the Strawberry Blond one.

At least its some sort of match report, as Quinny is too busy to do one himself.



Post Edited (19-09-09 22:18)

Not bad huh?

Comments? Thoughts? Gloats?

Just a match thread from Richmonds website.

Seems they take the league in a much more serious manner than it is intended.

No it wasnt a bad result for them considering they shouldnt even be in the league (if that is the squad they put out every week, which I have heard it isnt).

Well done BA,we were well paggered but stuck with it,we need our fat lads back.Quinny wouldnt be as descriptive as you even if he ever did a report.

I,m sure young frankland converted our score ;-)

Was that the score I had the decisive pass in? after 5 years and 2 weeks out. God Am I paying for it. I would hate to think what you old people feel llike on a Sunday morning. ;-)

Yes he did convert, and I was also sure it was only 73 against.

God my limbs ache in places I didnt even know I had limbs.



Post Edited (20-09-09 23:29)

fit as a fiddle on a sunday,bit rough after a few pints of crap beer down town tho...:-D

score was 78 - 7. Lads kept going well and 2nd half was good

Rovers 3rd played Richmondshire a couple of weeks ago. We had the bare 15, they had 27, a large majority of which were huge army people mixed with huge south sea island army people.

Needless to say, like you, we got a good kicking.

Surely they would be better suited to playing in the Merit league?

Totally agree Coops. Thet are far to strong for the TVL and should be in the Merit. But hey ho, i suppose :oD

You are right that sides like that that should be in the Merit League as a springboard to D&N league rugby- like South Park Rangers did last year.

It used to be Richmondshire 2nds who were in the in the Social League a few years ago but from what I recall it appeared they were struggling to get a team out some/most weeks.

When their 1st team dropped out of D&N3 about 18 months ago they just began to play their 1st team in the 2nd team fixtures . I dont think their 1st team were ever formally adopted in the Social League , it just sort of happened.This year they obviously have an influx as happens to those sides near Catterick. Can you remember Northallerton III 2 years ago? When the Stocktonians arrived there I felt like Captain Cook as there were so many South Sea Islanders around.


Leave the social league to teams who want to turn up & split the numbers if someone is short & have a game & a few beers.There may be one or two hidings to be had in the social league this year but most games will be pretty even contests I hope.

Couldnt agree more NEET,we the Ams were loaned players by redcar for our 1st game(they had no 2nd team game ) ;-) tthen the week after we helped Billingham3rds when thy had injuries to their bare 15 and that was a close game.We havnt been able to start a game with a front row yet,we need some fat lads :-D

Whats the harm in some Forces lads having a run out and a few beers before they head off for some war zone? Forget the score and appreciate the social side of the game. You're doing your bit for your country.



Post Edited (22-09-09 10:00)

don't get me wrong WPA, the game was played in good spirit. The only issue i had was we had a lot of young keen lads playing and we were up against a team i honestly felt the Stags would have been more suited to playing but we did not give up and i thought our lads stuck at it fantastically and did not give up at all. there are some very good prospects playing in the ams at the minute and things are looking better all the time

As someone said the team you played will vary depending on who is back at base so you just got unlucky. If they joined a more serious league they would probably struggle over the course of a season.

Fair enough. roll on Saturday..Yarm away! ;-);-)

If thats is there occasional team then fair enough, I agree WPA.

I did say however if that is their regular team then it aint fair.

I enjoyed it (but you would after being injured for 5 years)

Was a good game, and wouldnt do us any harm for the rest of the season, we play to enjoy it and some of the youngsters get to learn some lessons, as well as us oldies.

I wasn't complaining either.

We've beaten teams by bigger margins and I am sure they feel the same

Just suggesting that Richmondshire, may get more out of the Merit league.

When have we moaned SDH??? Get your facts right!

its easy to see this one from both points of view i think. obviously no one likes it when you find yourself on the wrong end of a drubbing, especially when it is a bit of a mismatch! on the other hand, if they have lads who are only available from time to time you cant critise them for fielding a stronger side when the oppurtunity is there! i'm sure anyone would do the same!
On another note, its really good to see the ams getting numbers out this season and doing pretty well so far (saturdays drubbing aside!)

The point a few seem to be missing here is we are NOT moaning about getting stuffed. all i pointed out was they are too good for the league they are in