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match report, hartlepool 2nds v Billingham 3rds
Richard Morrison10 Sep 2011 - 20:14
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Hartlepool 2nds v Billingham 3rds
10/09/2011
After the previous week’s victory against reigning league champions Rovers, hopes and expectations were high today for another journey into Hartlepool and another tough game was on the cards for the thirds.
This week’s match was a bit of an unknown as the opponents had come down for the league above, and as such were not a team to be taken lightly, especially as there were a few known faces in their squad who had previously worn the green and white, especially Rich Foster who is an imposing sight to take on for any player.
The first few minutes of the game were very cat and mouse with the teams feeling each other out for weaknesses, however the first team to gain the upper hand was Billingham, a scrum in the opponents half had us not only holding their pack, but driving them back and taking the ball against the head, a trend which would follow throughout the game.
It wasn’t till the 15th minute that the first points were on the board, a scrum again against the head on the Billingham 10 metre found the ball making its way to the backs, Mikey SIXSMITH coming on to the ball at pace to cut his way through the defence and run in a try half the length of the pitch, conversion missed.
Hartlepool then had their first pressure of the game, they had gained good position and a penalty on the Billingham 5 metre, shipping the ball to the on-rushing Foster, who they believed would be big enough to smash through the defensive line, they were wrong, he was met by the combined strength of James WATSON and Alan MORGAN who sent him back, although this eventually resulted in another penalty they decided not to try and run again and instead took the 3 points with the boot
Next score went to Billingham, after a lineout on the opposition 10 metre the ball found itself in the hands of GUZ. Normally from this point he would use his strength to take on the tacklers, however on this occasion showed great invention, chipping ahead with the skill of a fly half he then ran on and took his own kick, finally being brought to the ground a metre out it was left to the impressive CHILDS coming from scrum half to take the ball over for the score, again missed conversion.
There was time before the whistle for a third score of the half, coming from second row nick GRAY. Taking the ball from just outside the 10 he went on a leggy run where 5 separate tacklers were unable to stop the rampage, scoring under the posts leaving an easy conversion for ELGIE.
HALF TIME - HARTLEPOOL 3 BILLINGHAM 17
Second half started with rover throwing everything they had, today though it wasn’t enough, defence stood firm and not a tackle was missed. 5 minutes in and the ball was in midfield with yet another scrum, this time to Hartlepool, however as the ball came out loose WATSON broke off from the back row, picked up the ball and drove through, touching down to extend the lead.
This latest score seemed to finally break the Hartlepool spirit and a few quick fire scores were added, first from McConnell, chasing after a chip along the left line and touching down after the full back had failed to gather the ball. Next from John DAVIES, finishing off a length of the pitch run from Naz RENWICK after he un-selfishly off-loaded the ball 5 metres out. Then it was the turn of Ben ELGIE with possibly the best of the game, taking the ball within his 22 he brushed off 2 tacklers then continued the length of the pitch stepping one way and the other to evade the defence and touching down under the posts, leaving the conversion to ARMSTRONG.
Another 2 tries were to follow firstly from WATSON for his second, cutting through a now forlorn Hartlepool defence from within his own half to go through under the posts, SUDRON converting and fittingly the final score of the game going to GUZ finishing a sideways run from CANHAM.
Overall, another dominating performance in all areas of play, resulting in another resounding win. Congratulations from the 3rds also go to the other senior teams this weekend, all coming out with wins to make it an unbeaten Saturday for Billingham R.U.F.C. Well done.
FINAL SCORE – HARTLEPOOL 2nds 3 BILLINGHAM 3rds 53
Tries - Watson 2, Sixsmith, Childs, Gray, McConnell, Davies, Elgie, Guz
Con - Elgie 2, Armstrong, Sudron
10/09/2011
After the previous week’s victory against reigning league champions Rovers, hopes and expectations were high today for another journey into Hartlepool and another tough game was on the cards for the thirds.
This week’s match was a bit of an unknown as the opponents had come down for the league above, and as such were not a team to be taken lightly, especially as there were a few known faces in their squad who had previously worn the green and white, especially Rich Foster who is an imposing sight to take on for any player.
The first few minutes of the game were very cat and mouse with the teams feeling each other out for weaknesses, however the first team to gain the upper hand was Billingham, a scrum in the opponents half had us not only holding their pack, but driving them back and taking the ball against the head, a trend which would follow throughout the game.
It wasn’t till the 15th minute that the first points were on the board, a scrum again against the head on the Billingham 10 metre found the ball making its way to the backs, Mikey SIXSMITH coming on to the ball at pace to cut his way through the defence and run in a try half the length of the pitch, conversion missed.
Hartlepool then had their first pressure of the game, they had gained good position and a penalty on the Billingham 5 metre, shipping the ball to the on-rushing Foster, who they believed would be big enough to smash through the defensive line, they were wrong, he was met by the combined strength of James WATSON and Alan MORGAN who sent him back, although this eventually resulted in another penalty they decided not to try and run again and instead took the 3 points with the boot
Next score went to Billingham, after a lineout on the opposition 10 metre the ball found itself in the hands of GUZ. Normally from this point he would use his strength to take on the tacklers, however on this occasion showed great invention, chipping ahead with the skill of a fly half he then ran on and took his own kick, finally being brought to the ground a metre out it was left to the impressive CHILDS coming from scrum half to take the ball over for the score, again missed conversion.
There was time before the whistle for a third score of the half, coming from second row nick GRAY. Taking the ball from just outside the 10 he went on a leggy run where 5 separate tacklers were unable to stop the rampage, scoring under the posts leaving an easy conversion for ELGIE.
HALF TIME - HARTLEPOOL 3 BILLINGHAM 17
Second half started with rover throwing everything they had, today though it wasn’t enough, defence stood firm and not a tackle was missed. 5 minutes in and the ball was in midfield with yet another scrum, this time to Hartlepool, however as the ball came out loose WATSON broke off from the back row, picked up the ball and drove through, touching down to extend the lead.
This latest score seemed to finally break the Hartlepool spirit and a few quick fire scores were added, first from McConnell, chasing after a chip along the left line and touching down after the full back had failed to gather the ball. Next from John DAVIES, finishing off a length of the pitch run from Naz RENWICK after he un-selfishly off-loaded the ball 5 metres out. Then it was the turn of Ben ELGIE with possibly the best of the game, taking the ball within his 22 he brushed off 2 tacklers then continued the length of the pitch stepping one way and the other to evade the defence and touching down under the posts, leaving the conversion to ARMSTRONG.
Another 2 tries were to follow firstly from WATSON for his second, cutting through a now forlorn Hartlepool defence from within his own half to go through under the posts, SUDRON converting and fittingly the final score of the game going to GUZ finishing a sideways run from CANHAM.
Overall, another dominating performance in all areas of play, resulting in another resounding win. Congratulations from the 3rds also go to the other senior teams this weekend, all coming out with wins to make it an unbeaten Saturday for Billingham R.U.F.C. Well done.
FINAL SCORE – HARTLEPOOL 2nds 3 BILLINGHAM 3rds 53
Tries - Watson 2, Sixsmith, Childs, Gray, McConnell, Davies, Elgie, Guz
Con - Elgie 2, Armstrong, Sudron
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