SOUTH Tyneside College kept up their recent run of good form with a hard-fought victory over Hartlepool Athletic.
It was a tough competitive game between the two sides, College could have taken a 10th-minute lead, but fly-half Bruce Parker missed a penalty in the first 10 minutes.
However, South Tyneside did take the early lead two minutes later with a try fr
om outside centre Simon O'Neil, which was not converted by Parker.
South Tyneside almost took their lead to 12-0, but unfortunately the ball slipped from the hands of inside centre Craig Adams just as he went to ground it.
Athletic's fly-half also missed a penalty, but they did bring the score level with a try from their No6 in the 30th minute.
College capitalised on some strong impact play from their second rowers, Terry Kirkham and Dan Hodgson, to bring their second try from flanker Giles Ellison which was converted in the 40th minute.
The first half ended with College 12-5 up,and the second half was just as action packed as the first.
Athletic brought the scores level in the 45th minute with a try from their No8, which was converted.
This was all in vain as fly-half Parker took South Tyneside back into a seven-point lead with a try, which he also converted.
On 74 minutes Parker slotted a penalty through the uprights to take the score to 22-12 in favour of South Tyneside.
The final six minutes had some action-packed pay, with the forwards having a lot of possession of the ball for South Tyneside, but their fourth try of the afternoon proved just out of their reach.
