Hartlepool 25, Novos 36 - Great Away Day Win

Relying on our video footage for this report as I was unable to attend - grateful for player coach Michael Searle taking charge alongside Rob Ogilvie who patrolled the sidelines.

During the early exchanges Michael Searle carried hard after a dominant scrum, then Louis Matthews got us over the gain line. With front foot ball Lewis Chater turned it back inside for Dylan Gittins to make the line break. He in turn passed the ball back to Chater to race in under the posts for a pretty food team try. Conversion added by Searle. 7-0

We then got a luck penalty for a push which Searle slotted from 40m out to push us out to 10-0.

Hartlepool got into the game finally with some penalties helping them into our half. We conceded a penalty which they kicked to close the gap to 10-3.

The boys got on top again with our forwards dominating the set piece - from a lineout steal Matthews made a strong carry before offloading to Gittins. He ran into the Hartlepool 22m and was dragged to the floor but managed to offload of the deck to Alex Cleminson to score near the posts. Kick missed unfortunately but we were now up 15-3.

We looked in control but Hartlepool had a purple patch and scored a pick n go try for 15-8. They then went straight back on the attack but we scrambled to earn a goal line drop out. Chater dropped the ball out and it was charged down from a player who was about a metre away ! Play on said the ref who then gave Hartlepool a scrum from which they scored again. Luckily their kicker was having an off day and we stayed ahead 15-13.

Hartlepool finished the half well and went into the lead for the first time when one of their players hit a great hard line and went in relatively untouched. Kick again missed for a half time score of 18-15 to Hartlepool.

Lewis Chater did his best Richie Mounga impression from the kick off and regathered the ball from his own kick. Under pressure Hartlepool conceded a penalty and Searle added another penalty to level it at 18 all.

It was all us in the next 20 mins as we drove a maul in for George Bambrick to score. 23-18 to Novos before Rhys Merlane quickly added the next try dancing down the side line for a fine try. Quickly out to 28-18 before we put the game to bed with Chater putting in Eoghan Phillips for a try on his return to the group. Their lad left his knees in and a bit of handbag throwing occurred but no harm caused.

Hartlepool battled back into the game on a couple of strange decisions - pressure eventually leading to a Morgan Scrace yellow card. Hartlepool scored to close the gap to 33-25. However, calmness was restored as on the final play Michael Searle won a penalty at the break down. He then stepped up to kick the penalty and make the final score 36-25.

Thank you to the ref for taking charge - generally a pretty safe game played in a competitive spirit by both sides. Would loved to have been there to discuss a couple of decisions to improve my understanding of some laws.

Great win for our boys and great to see the pack again scrummaging well and provide a platform for some exciting backs. Sets up next weeks game well against Acklam where we can leap frog them with a win.

Our squad has had some real competition of late with selection proving incredibly difficult most weeks. The group is set to get even stronger with the return of Sam Ogilvie in the next few days.

Exciting times ahead.