The end of the game certainly left a feeling of “if-only” amongst the West faithful. If today's form had been shown in the derbies at Horden and Rovers we might well be looking at a very different league table. The forwards support play was excellent and defence tenacious while the backs exploited the overlaps and while still kicking well when required. It proves that you can play good running rugby without being suicidal and hopefully that lesson has now been learned.

Credit must also go to the visitors for keeping battling in the second half when they were really staring down the barrel at 45-7 with 20 minutes to play having just conceded 3 tries in 5 minutes. But they came back well, holding West to only one more try and adding a score of their own through scrum half Jimmy Baldwin. Park had kicked away a lot of ball in the opening stages and probably regretted not keeping the ball in hand more as the backs looked useful when given the opportunity to run. It is a shame that North Two East will probably lose a side that looks to play good rugby and has some quality players.

A further commendation should go to the official, Steve Lee of the Yorkshire Society, who, unlike his colleagues in recent times, allowed competition at the breakdown and kept the game moving and the whistle in his hand wherever possible.

West were out of the blocks very quickly and mounted several phases of attacking play in a punishing opening five minutes for the visitors. The pressure told after 5 minutes when Andrew Hare exploited an overlap on the left to touch down in the corner. Tom Dixon added an excellent conversion, his first of four first half kicks.

It took until the 26th minute for West to add to their tally when Martin Todd benefited from a well timed pass from Hare to race in unchallenged. Two minutes later Neil Howe crossed for his first try in West colours, finishing off an excellent break by Davy Tighe, scoring under the posts.
Michael Young added West's fourth try just before the half when the home pack surged forward from a lineout and the scrum half finished off from close range.

28-0 at the half certainly brought a happier feeling than recent games for players, coaches and spectators who had seen a much different West Hartlepool since the turn of the year.

Henry Tones marked his comeback from injury with a try ten minutes after the break, finishing off another rolling maul. It was a fitting reward for an excellent performance – typically dogged in defence and as hard-working as anyone on the pitch. Dixon again added the conversion.

Park were not ready to lie down and deserved their first score with 53 minutes gone. They mounted several good phases and should have scored when Mark Walton burst through the West backline only for Young to make a try-saving tackle. Play was brought back for an earlier infringement though and Craig Bartle touched down from a pick and go just short of the line. Michael Golbourne added the conversion.

West responded well, with Todd and Young adding their second tries on 56 and 58 minutes. Todd's was another well exploited overlap whereas Young's try was a reward for excellent defensive work, the forwards turning over a ball inside their own half the England youngster's cool chip ahead allowing him to beat the defence to score.
Greg Edwards kept the scoring rate going with a try on the hour – a short range effort after Todd almost had his hat-trick with a great run down the right wing.

Then came the Park resurgence and a test for the West defence which held up well for long periods before Baldwin eventually found a way over after a 5 metre scrum – a try nobody at Brinkburn would have denied the visitors given the way they had battled and continued to play rugby despite the scoreline.

It was certainly a welcome return to form for West who when looking at the rest of the day's results might just have one eye back on the top of the table. Driffield's surprise loss at home to Horden and Sheffield Tigers going down at Middlesbrough leaves West only 4 points off second spot with both teams above them in the race still to play. While still unlikely with only 5 games to play it is not an impossible goal and West need to keep the pressure on the teams above and be ready to take advantage should they slip up again. Tigers have a difficult trip to Horden next time out and Driffield will be at the Friarage to take on Rovers. However, West minds will have to be firmly on a trip to Hollow Drift to face a Durham City side staring relegation in the face and desperately needing a win. It could well be an interesting end to the season!



West: Hare, Todd, Edwards (Moss), Howe, Painter, Tighe, Young, Carr, A Dixon (Cullinane), Robinson (Norris), Rudd, T Dixon, Miller, Tones, D Boatman.

Tries: Hare, Todd 2, Howe, Young 2, Tones, Edwards
Cons: T Dixon 5

Percy Park: Casey, Golbourne, J Walton, M Walton, O'Neill, D Griffiths, Baldwin, Denny, Graham, Purdy, Fiddler, Bartle, C Griffiths, Langlands, Dixon
Reps: Biggins, Rowley, Duhrin

Tries: Bartle, Baldwin
Cons: Golbourne 2

Referee: Steve Lee [Yorkshire Society]