It was the Friars who struck first. Good play in the middle saw Liam Lester find Jordan Thornhill out wide, and he crashed over the line to put the home side ahead. Lester stepped up to convert the try, giving Hartlepool a 7-0 lead.

DMP came back strongly after the score, running in three tries of their own without reply. The third was a penalty try after a high tackle from player-coach Dean Ryan. He saw yellow for the incident, missing the final minute of the half and nine of the second.

In the second half, the Friars got another try back through Thornhill again. Tony Rodgers picked the ball up from the ruck and found Lester in space, the fly half’s pass to Thornhill gave him time to crash beyond the defence for his second of the game.

The DMP side kept the score ticking over with a couple more tries, though Callum Scholes had a chance to reduce the deficit for the hosts. A burst through the middle from Lester found Tubuna in space who in turn offloaded to Scholes, but a tackle at the crucial moment saw the ball spilled forward on the try line.

Hartlepool did get one back through Ryan, who had returned to the action. Despite having virtually both teams either side in a rolling maul, Ryan managed to find space to get the ball down for a score. Lester converted expertly, slotting the ball between the posts from out wide.

A final score by DMP was converted, confirming the Darlington victory.

Hartlepool: R Johnston, Swift, S Johnston, Lister, Rodgers, Paddon, Thornhill, Tubuna; O’Donovan, Lester, Scholes, Hutchinson, McConnell, Rose, Lines.

Reps: Allen, Martin, Ryan, Clode, Millar.

Tries: Thornhill (2), Ryan
Cons: Lester (2)

This week the Friars travel to Guisborough.

#UTHOB