Life left in 'old' Rover
YOU'VE seen it in boxing – the fighter who comes out of retirement for "one more bout" and looks past it.
But you could not say the same about one of the long list of outstanding scrum-halves to come out of Hartlepool.
Jonathan Wrigley showed he had lost none of his class and experience when he played the final 25 minutes of Hartlepool Rovers' 36-0 win over Northern on Saturday. He even scored the final try of his side's 13th Durham Northumberland Division One victory in a row.
The now player-coach is not going to depose the awesome Andrew Foreman at number nine, but he's not a bad reserve to have up your sleeve.
Wrigley has been an outstanding player for Rovers in his three spells at the club he was made a member of the day he was born, just over 42 years ago.
Dad Derek, something of a Rovers legend himself five decades ago, made sure Jonathan Charles Wrigley knew very early on who he'd be playing rugby for.
Jonathan played in Ian Millican's successful colts team, represented England Under 19 and captained his club at the tender age of 22.
He played top flight rugby for West before spells at Middlesbrough and Mowden Park ahead of a Rovers return in 2003.
Wrigley inspired Rovers to the Durham Northumberland Division One title that season and hung up his boots in 2005 after helping the club consolidate their place in North Two East.
Four years on, he's back, though it is his coaching prowess which has really caught the eye.
As head coach, he's linked up successfully with his old West team-mate Craig Lee at the Friarage. To continue the old Brierton Lane connection, John Dixon helps out with the forwards.
And what a season Rovers have enjoyed following relegation last April.
They have won all 13 league games while they claimed a notable scalp on Boxing Day when Mark Power and his side won at West.
Andrew Foreman has ran in 21 league tries, while Gareth Foreman (11), Phil Hall (eight) and Chris Sainty and Michael Taylor (seven) are also top of the try charts.
FOR full column, see Tuesday's Mail
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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