PRUDHOE and Stocksfield were rewarded with a bonus point for a brilliant second half display at the weekend.

They ran in four tries on their first visit to West Hartlepool Technical Day School Old Boys despite losing the game 40-26.

They were trailing by 28 points at the break despite being the better team in the opening half, defensive frailties exposed as it was all too easy for the hosts at times.

Prudhoe enjoyed all the possession early on but Tech made them pay as soon as they took hold of the ball, running through four poor tackles to register the game’s opening try.

Five minutes later, more cracks appeared in Prudhoe’s back line and the scoreline was increased to 14 points.

P&S were dominating the scrum but, as they pressed into their opponents’ five metre area, the ball was lost and strong running and three passes saw the hosts go three scores up at the other end.

The final play of the half ended with the Tech winger escaping three tackles to earn the bonus point before the half time whistle.

Prudhoe’s progress upfield was repeatedly thwarted by foul play from the home side, and it was only a matter of time before they were punished with the first yellow card coming for a deliberate offside.

The visitors weren’t able to capitalise until Tech were restored to XV, Jerry Robinson going over to open Prudhoe’s account, Chris Russell successful with the conversion.

It was a similar move which saw Prudhoe move the scoreboard on, Russell again converting a Robinson try either side of a fifth Hartlepool score.

The away side were in control at this stage with Mark Russell’s throwing at the line-out a useful source of ball.

The game was regularly disrupted by the referee’s whistle due to Hartlepool’s constant infringements, so it was some surprise when P&S captain Jack Liddle found himself yellow carded while out of the official’s line of vision. A double blow followed as, in addition to Tech running in a sixth try, Prudhoe missed the bite and drive provided by their skipper during this spell.

The swing of dominance returned to the visitors with Hartlepool reduced to 14 men themselves, Luke Masters scoring the try of the game as he picked the ball up on half way and left his opponents in his wake by showing an incredible turn of pace.

The game ended with Prudhoe securing a richly deserved bonus point for four tries, Will Foster driving forward with the support of the pack and crossing the whitewash.