Blue's Encouraging Performance in Pre Season Practice Games.

With the loss of a number of last seasons stars over the summer, the Hartsfield faithful were understandably apprehensive about the outcome of the two preseason practice matches against West Park St Helens, contenders for promotion to the National League from North 1 last season, and Caldy, North 2 West champions. As it happened, they were hugely encouraged by their team's performance and will approach the first League game at Leicester Lions next Saturday with much improved confidence.

The West Park St Helens game, played on Thursday evening was a non event with two sides trying to find their feet, ending with two tries apiece and New Brighton losing by two points through a missed conversion.

Because of the keen local rivalry between the two neighbours and many close links over the years, expectations for Saturdays fixture against Caldy were that the game would be very competitive and that Caldy may be able to take advantage of the perceived weaknesses in the New Brighton line up to put one across on more senior neighbours. The quite substantial crowd which turned up were rewarded with a very entertaining game of rugby and the home supporters were delighted to see a competent performance from their newly rebuilt side to run out winners by five tries and three conversions to two converted tries.

Though Caldy have a good set of backs and both forwards and backs look impressive in open play the deciding factor was the well drilled cohesion of the New Brighton pack which consistently deprived Caldy of any sight of the ball for long periods.

New Brighton took early control and came close to scoring from a line out catch and drive within 7 minutes but the defence stood firm. Three minutes later from a scrum 30 metres out scrum half Alan Hesketh made a break round the pack, put in a little gruber and won the chase for the touch down. The conversion failed but the Blues were off the mark. Caldy soon replied. In only the first time that Caldy were established in the New Brighton half a long pass across the Caldy line went astray and a New Brighton failure to capitalise allowed Caldy to recover and score. The try was converted and the visitors took the lead. At this stage Caldy had picked up the pace and were looking decidedly useful. The second try followed five minutes later when Loa Tupou, Caldy No 8, picked up a ball, lost by New Brighton in the tackle, and strode through the defence to put the scrum half in under the posts for a simple conversion. Caldy were looking comfortable with a 14 points to 5 lead and settling well.

Jon Sewell reduced the deficit when he grabbed a try from the confusion at the back of the scrum when Blues forwards pressure disrupted a Caldy heel close in. The try was converted by Stephen Dean to bring the score to 12 - 14. On the stroke of half time the Blues went into the lead with a try from a rolling maul claimed by Mark Dorrington.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 17 - 14 Caldy

Caldy attacked for a long period in the second half putting on the pressure with direct running and passing. The Blues were fortunate not to concede a score for much of the third quarter. Inevitably, the Blues forward organisation took its toll and on 66 minutes the fourth try came up from a set move culminating in rolling maul. Stephen Dean took the extras and with a two scores lead the home side were never again threatend. Minutes before full time Joel Parker completed the scoring from the slickest backs move in the game when a miss pass opened up the gap for the final converted try. S

NEXT GAME:
- LEICESTER LIONS-
LEICESTER - 3rd September 2005.

NEXT HOME GAME:
- HULL IONIANS-
"HARTSFIELD" 24th September 2005. K.O.3.00 p.m.