IT was second against first on Saturday as league leaders Guisborough RUFC travelled to second placed Hartlepool RUFC looking to continue their 100 per cent record in the league this season.

Kicking off in front of a sizeable crowd, swelled by an enthusiastic contingent of Argentinian rugby tourists, Guisborough soon found themselves defending in their 22 metre area. However, a penalty allowed them to clear their lines.

The home team continued to press and, using the advantage of the wind, kicked high and long back towards the Guisborough try-line. Lewis Robson collected and passed left to Phil Shields. The full-back ran forward, beating defenders, before sending Ewan Cameron away along the left wing. Still inside his own half, the winger accelerated around and beyond covering Hartlepool tacklers, before touching down under the posts to score the first points of the game. Robson added the conversion.

There was a chance to extend their lead, when the visitors were awarded a penalty 35 metres from goal, but Robson’s effort just missed the target. Hartlepool were having plenty of possession and were kicking well, keeping Guisborough pinned back in the left-hand corner of the pitch, but a well marshalled defence held firm. After the referee had strong words to say to both captains, it was Shields who was the unfortunate player to receive a yellow card for coming into a ruck from the side, reducing his team to 14 players for ten minutes.

Continuing to use the wind to good effect, Hartlepool kicked a penalty to within five metres of the away team try-line. Attacking after winning the line-out, It appeared as though Guisborough had weathered the onslaught when they were awarded a scrum. However, at the set-piece, a huge shunt sent the visitors’ pack backwards beyond their own whitewash, allowing a home team forward to touch down and score. The conversion just missed its target. Guisborough managed a quick attack just before half-time when Cameron broke through the midfield, but on being halted the referee blew his whistle for half time with scoreboard reading Hartlepool 5, Guisborough 7.

Now with the advantage of the wind, Jack Robinson kicked into the Hartlepool 22 from his own half, giving Guisborough a line-out in a dangerous position. Here, a Hartlepool player was shown a yellow card, but Guisborough failed to capitalise. Now using their heavy forwards, the home team went through several phases, taking play into Guisborough territory. Defences were on top form and neither team looked as though they would break through.

However, after a scrum was awarded to the visitors in front of their posts on the 22 metre line, an infringement committed by the away team was spotted by the official. Electing to kick at goal, a successful penalty gave Hartlepool a slender lead. Shortly after, Guisborough were punished again by the referee, who showed a yellow card to Ewan Cameron at a ruck. Hartlepool seized the opportunity of having the extra player. Stretching play wide to the left wing, with a well weighted grubber kick, they used the forwards to pound the midfield, before passing right and finding a player who had the space to run and cut inside the tackler to touch down.

As much as they tried, Guisborough could not find a way to put pressure on Hartlepool in their half. Every effort was halted, before the referee blew his whistle to end the game with the scoreboard at Hartlepool 13, Guisborough 7. Guisborough are still top of the league but ‘Pools deserved their win.

Next up for Guisborough are Sedgefield RUFC, under the lights, on Friday, ko 7pm.