Whitby v Hartlepool Athletic 03-10-09
Hartlepool Athletic – 3
Mother Nature let rip with a force 8 gale this week so high-quality handling and level-headed kicking was the key. Captain Oliver Roberts won the toss and decided to play with the wind for the first half to try and amass as many points as possible with the wind in our favour. This was a rational decision as Steve Allen took aim and slotted home 2 flawless penalties in quick succession. A well worked move by the backs saw Dave Straker split free on the wing, then unselfishly give the ball to Ben Noble to gain Whitby’s first try, again Steve Allen still on fine form adding the conversion.
Hartlepool was held back in their own half because of the wind. They could not kick the ball free so Whitby kept the pressure on and from a good firm scrum the ball came out and landed in the hands of Dave Straker to score again. Again Whitby was deep in the Hartlepool half and from a first-rate line-out considering the conditions saw loose head prop Darren Lonsdale penetrate the Hartlepool line.
The ultimate points of the half came from Matt Russell who blasted his way through the defence from the 5 metre line, he got held up but the heavyweight back up of James Gildroy and John Harrison saw him go over to score.
The second half was to be demanding work against the wind and Hartlepool took full advantage of that, and from a pointless penalty in the Whitby half Hartlepool slotted home 3 points. From some proficient work against the wind saw Whitby once again on the Hartlepool line but a clanger dropped by someone saw Hartlepool come away with the ball and put a big 60 metre kick back down the field, the ball fell to the whitby winger (don’t know his name) who sped back up the pitch and with support from Dave Straker saw him go over for his second of the game. Condensed sharp passes were the order for the last quarter of the game and Whitby forwards did as they were told and grafted their way up the field after numerous phases of play the ball went wide and the responsibility came down to winger Mick Latus to conclude the scoring.
This was an easier said than done game against the elements but Whitby stood strong. The training is paying off so keep working hard and the results will come.
M.O.M – Ste Gildroy
