The Stags won in the dying moments thanks to some great skill from Tom Dixon and some power play from Dave Garside.
Horden will be thirsting for revenge on their own pitch ... the one that Hartlepool team's just don't seem to like.
Whatever happens in the Pyman this year the Stags may well be playing in an additional league next season. We've applied to join the CANDY league [Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire] which provides some excellent rugby for development squads.
We will also field a side in the Teesside Merit League where the Stags have enjoyed success over the past couple of seasons.
But the Candy league will produce a different level of opposition with the likes of Tynedale Raiders, Penrith IIs, Blaydon Georgians, Middlesbrough Wasps, Morpeth Reivers, Mowden Park IIs, Darlington Bulls, Sunderland IIs, Durham City IIs, Westoe IIs and Carlisle Crusaders.
Obviously there's some caoch travel involved in those fixtures ... so if anyone out there fancies sponsoring the Stags next season please let us know!