Lions go down to a strong West side.

West Hartlepool V Billingham Lions

Taking a team decimated with injury, cry offs, unavailability, first team call ups etc. the Lions went to West with Wayne Finney being drafted in the run the line and four number nines and four second rows on the field. A huge and very experienced home side, showed Pools strength in depth this season. The first exchanges were torrid with our reshuffled pack trying to gel as a playing unit in the open yet Grey was taking ball well in the lineout. Scott was always under pressure at eight with the pack going backwards. On the quarter hour our defence was breached and a couple of missed tackles saw the home side take a fourteen point lead. With a quarter of the game gone we were awarded a penalty which Finney slotted to put us on the scoreboard. A couple of minutes later a wayward pass was intercepted and West went further ahead. Pool continued to notch up scores and closed out the half right on half time with their seventh try of the half when a vicious bounce evaded the last line of defence of Billingham .
West Hartlepool 47 Billingham Lions 3
Winspear replaced Sayers who once again was asked to play out wide on the wing and with ten minutes gone West scored again and Hammond had to leave the field with a stinger to be replaced by Dale Thompson and a reshuffling of the front row with Rob McCabe moving to hooker. Then a glimmer of light as Burgum broke with Woodhouse on his shoulder, Andy Thompson secured the ball at last clean ball was spun through the hands and Keenan scored with a conversion following. Churlish replaced Thompson for his second team debut in the back row. West continued to pile on the tries as the Lions looked out of sorts and little scoring opportunities. Hopley made some good ground with weaving runs and showed great determination tackling back. The final honours went to the Lions after Kev McCabe made some hard yards, Ker hit a gap and Burgum took the ball on and with a fierce hand off clearing the way forced his way over to score. West were a very good side although we did not help ourselves with missed tackles, a lack of ball carrying and competition at the breakdown. When you look at some of the performances this season we must try to get some consistency into the team selected. It may have been one of those days when a number of players had off days (it happens) but the next game will give them a chance to make up for it. Well done to the players who stepped up or were prepared to switch positions just to get fifteen players on the park.
West Hartlepool 80 Billingham Lions 17