HAMILTON Academical yesterday won Hartlepool United’s Centenary Tournament.

They beat a Sunderland XI 2-1 in the final, after Pools saw off Huddersfield in the thirdplace play-off.

And during Pools victory, the sparse crowd were given a glimpse of the talents of Jonny Rowell.

The teenager was included in Danny Wilson’s squad on a couple of occasions last season and yesterday made a first-team start.

He twice had openings to score, but couldn’t find a way past keeper Alex Smithies.

First he was set-up eight yards out by a neat Joel Porter flick but Smithies reacted to dive across goal and keep out his slide-rule finish.

Then the teenage midfielder ran from deep, but, after beating the defence his shot was straight at the keeper.

Porter should have scored just before the hour, but his sidefooted strike was straight at Smithies.

But Porter gave Pools the lead on 63 minutes, beating the offside trap to race away on the left side and roll his shot into the net.

Arran Lee-Barrett kept the score in check when he kept out Luke Beckett’s header with an outstretched leg.

“Work ethic and attitude over the weekend has been terrific all weekend, but that’s been the case throughout preseason,’’ said Danny Wilson, whose side opened on Saturday with a 1-0 loss to Sunderland.

“In that heat to keep going like they did towards the end after two games in as many days was very encouraging.

“You cannot ask for any more, but they have put it in during pre-season and it hasn’t been an easy workload for them.

“We’ve had a lot of games, with no breaks and hopefully it will tee us up for the season.

“I’m sure when we play Huddersfield in the season it will be a different occasion, but you cannot ask for any more than a win with a clean sheet.

He added: “Our workload has been heavy and the lads came through it great. Players have been involved in both games and, in an ideal world, I wouldn’t do it, but we’ve had to because of the small squad we carry.

“In one or two areas we were very good and one of those players was Jonny Rowell.

“He did very well at times – obviously he has the physical side to come and grow into, but he showed his ability.

“He’s not ready yet, there’s some way to go, but little cameo roles could be good for him. This sort of game was perfect for him. I’m sure he will start games later and he will get used to it. Technically he is excellent and he will get stronger with the programme we have for him.’’ Sunderland beat Pools with Michael Chopra penalty and, in the final yesterday, a Russell Anderson own goal gave Accies the lead and, while Rada Prica set up Jordan Cook to give Sunderland a lifeline at 2-1, the Scottish side saw the game out.

But among the losers over the weekend are Pools, who will have lost money on the event. Only around 450 were inside Victoria Park for yesterday’s opening game, with the club reporting double that number were present for Saturday’s openers.

POOLS (v Huddersfield): Lee-Barrett; Mc- Cunnie, Nelson, Clark (Collins 46), Humphreys; Rowell, Liddle, Boland (Jones 50), Monkhouse (Robson 75), Porter, Mackay. Subs (not used): Tymon, Sweeney.

SUNDERLAND (v Hamilton): Colgan; Kay, Hartley, Anderson, McArdle; Edwards, Cook (Luscombe 82), Wallace; Prica, Dowson (Colbeck 67). Subs (not used): Chandler, Carson, Waghorn.