West Hartlepool battle to win against Northern

It also firmly laid the hoodoo which has seen them sink to some big defeats at the hands of the Newcastle club.

The game was switched to the all weather pitch at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park, which has probably seen more exciting encounters.

However, West were well worth their three try win and head coach Iain Dixon felt it could easily have been more.

“We would have liked a bonus point win,” he said.

“However, the most important thing was the victory, and I’m particularly pleased with the second-half performance when Northern failed to get into our 22 at any point.

“The forwards won this game for us as they worked really hard.

“The breakdowns were scruffy all afternoon, which meant that the game was slow, and we didn’t get as many opportunities as we would have liked to get the ball out.”

On the first occasion they did get the ball out to the wing West went ahead in some style.

No.8 Sam Miller had another excellent game and he opened up the space when he broke from the back of a scrum in his own 22 to send Ryan Painter clear up the right wing. He timed his pass to young winger Joe Willis who wasn’t going to be caught despite having a 60-metre run in.

Gavin Painter converted from near the touchline. He was on target again with a penalty on the quarter hour when home skipper Ed Cawthorn deliberately knocked on as West moved the ball along the home 22.

The “home” side then had their best spell of the game pressing West on their line which led to a succession of penalties as West tried to keep the Northern forwards out.

Sam Miller eventually took one for the team and was sin binned by Cumbrian official Martin Maughan.

However, the depleted West pack managed to keep their try line intact with Stu Waites’ clearing kick going deep into the Northern half.

Former England 7’s star Aaron Myers had started the game in a dominant West back row, and his reputation earned him some extra attention from Northern defenders throughout the afternoon.

He was tackled off the ball as West attacked, and the resulting melee saw West’s Liam Bailey and Northern hooker Gareth Henderson also going to the bin for continuing their altercation after the ref’s whistle had gone.

Despite being down to 13 men West held out comfortably but did concede a penalty late in the half when Sam Miller was penalised for coming in at the side.

West looked to play a more expansive game in the second half with Miller and Aaron Myers bursting through the middle at every opportunity they had Northern on the back foot.

Myers almost forced his way over on 45 minutes, and then Miller almost got to a high clearance kick from Gavin Painter. A kinder bounce would have almost certainly seen him steam home from 25 metres.

Prop Michael Hogan was the next to be stopped just short of the line, but there was no denying replacement prop Adam Coates. He made the most of a great break along the right wing involving Scott Butcher and Eldon Myers to find a gap to go over from five metres.

Gavin Painter’s conversion gave West a two score lead and they continued to press a tiring Northern.

They got their rewards when the lively Ryan Painter was the first to react to a penalty decision 15 metres out skipping passed three defenders to go over. Brother Gavin unusually missing with his conversion.

The win moved West closer to second place Morley, whose home game against Guisborough was a victim of the weather.

The Leeds side visit Brinkburn next week for what promises to be one of the games of the season.

Northern: James Stewart-Menteith, Dom Fawcett, Paddy Harper, Chris Hood, Dean Holliday, Donal Collins, Lester Bell, Laurence Troke, Gareth Henderson, Sam Wilson, Ed Kell, Jamie Powell, Phil Kay, Ed Cawthorn (captain), Tom Schofield.

Subs (all Used) Matt Hirst, Dave Snodin, Jimmy Crowther.

Pens Collins (1).

Sin-bin: Henderson.

West: Stu Waites, Joe Willis, Eldon Myers, Peter Youll, Scott Butcher, Gavin Painter, Ryan Painter, Michael Hogan, Andrew Rollins, Jack Angus, Joe Rafferty, Dan Boatman (captain), Liam Bailey, Aaron Myers, Sam Miller.

Subs used: John Bunter, Adam Coates, Greg Edwards.

Tries: Willis, Coates, R Painter. Cons: G Painter (2). Pen: G Painter (1)

Sin-bin: Miller, Bailey.

Referee: Martin Maughan (Cumbria)