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Washington traveled to Hartlepool with a score to settle, after a lackluster display on their last visit to Hartlepool. And settle it they did. The aggression in Washington’s pack saw them dominate the first fifteen minutes of the game, and the scrums throughout, keeping Hartlepool pinned in their own half. However, strong defending from Hartlepool, and some reluctance by Washington’s pack to utilize their backs, meant that this early pressure went unrewarded, and Hartlepool eventually managed to clear their lines without any score. It took some awe inspiringly strong running by full-back Jason Wilson, who consistently threatening the Hartlepool line, to break back through Hartlepool’s defences to start a series of phases that led to a great opening try by Geordie, who shrugged off the attentions of three Hartlepool defenders to score under the posts. A Jason Wilson conversion made it 7-0.

Hartlepool rallied well after the try, but with the biting wind and rain against them they found it difficult to get out of their own half and, just before half-time, a quick flurry of passing by Washington’s backs saw Graham Little cross the line for a 14-0 half time lead to the visitors.

With the rain and the wind on their side now, Hartlepool gave Washington a taste of their own medicine, pinning them in their own 22 for almost the whole second half. A succession of 5 metre line-outs, scrums and free-kicks should have seen Hartlepool score, but Washington’s defensive line somehow held. An uncharacteristic handling mistake by Hartlepool’s backs, who had looked dangerous throughout the game, saw Graham Little pick up the ball deep in his own half and run fully 60 yards to score in the corner. A great 19-0 win for Washington, a fantastic game all round, especially in the adverse conditions. Man-of-the-match had to go to a forward in such a hard fought match, and it was flanker Michael Reilly who won this particular honour, with special mention to Jonathan Henderson, Graham Little and Geordie.