After the previous week when a genuine second team of some 22 players played Blaydon in the Cup Coach Tony HORSFAL with some 10+ first team squad players missing for a wide number of reasons had the task of assembling a first team of 18. The excess number of these players seemed to disappear into the sand leaving a selection dilemma of Hobson’s choice
Even as the game kicked off a late replacement had to be found for Scott URWIN who was unable to attend and Simon CARR had to be moved to the subs bench as he could not attend for some 20mins after the kick off. A situation not conducive to have to face title contenders Hartlepool.

With cold wintry conditions with a strong cross field breeze Winlaton won the toss and elected to play against the elements and up the hill.

For the first 10 minutes Winlaton were under pressure but we able to withstand the constant attacks by the visitors when they secured the ball then used excellent forward driven mauls up field to clear their lines but some ineffective clearance kicks gave the opportunity back to Hartlepool to continue the barrage of attacks on the Winlaton line.

On 8MINS the Vulcans well-disciplined defence looked likely to contain the opposition until an overlap down the blindside saw the Hartlepool winger crash over in the corner(5PTS) the conversion kick striking the upright and failing.

The next quarter saw sporadic contributions by Winlaton which was heart-warming but their rugby as a team game it was not. Occasionally the Vulcans did put some pressure on the opposition defence but when they looked likely to score poor judgement or ill-discipline allowed the visitors to clear their lines with breeze assisted long kicks downhill.

As a result, Hartlepool continued to move the ball through the hands and off load and the stretched Winlaton defence started to concede tries at regular intervals on 15MINS a converted score (5PTS) + (2PTS) and on 21MINS(5PTS).

Their task was not made any easier when harshly Martin WOOD was adjudged to have obstructed a quick tap penalty by the visitors and was yellow carded,

Two further tries were conceded on 24MINS and 38MINS (12PTS)

HALF TIME 0PTS – 29PTS

From the restart Winlaton began positively and when Joe JENKINS fielded the ball he began a long mazy run through the Hartlepool cover defence and when stopped the he off loaded to Simon CARR up in support. The move continued with the forwards driving into the Hartlepool 22 and when stopped Mark SEDDON launched a precision cross field kick into the hands of the unmarked Winlaton full back Scott TAYLOR who crashed over in the corner(5PTS) + (2PTS) the conversion kicked by SEDDON.

This offered some hope to the home supporters but regardless of some determined tackling by JENKINS who was involved in everything supported by CARR and the continuous forward drives by WOOD and NEALE. Winlaton were unable to match the physicality of Hartlepool who were superior in all departments and scores by the visitors as in the first half came at regular intervals. They crossed over for 2 more converted tries and a penalty kick for a total of a further 17 points. The last try being the final move of the game.

With all due credit to the players who stood up to counted on the day they never gave up and kept playing courageously to the final whistle.
FINAL SCORE 7PTS – 46PTS

Man of the Match Joe JENKINS