Hartlepool started fast and arguably should have a penalty try in the 2nd minute of the game, when a clever chip from the visiting stand-off was collected by the scrum-half who drove for the line, the Rovers defenders looked to tackled him high and stopped him in the act of scoring. The referee Mr Morrison decided that Rochester was the offender and send him to the sin bin.
Hartlepool took a scrum under the posts 5m out and moved the ball to the right, before spinning the ball along the back line to the left and used their numerical advantage to put the winger in for a try in the corner. The touchline conversion drifted across the posts and wide but unbelievably the touch judges raised their flags and the kick was incorrectly awarded. (0-7, 3 Mins).
Rovers started to come into the game with good carries from their forwards pack and the backs using the ball well despite the loss of their stand-off. They were awarded a penalty on 10 minutes which was kicked within 10 metres from the Hartlepool line, the Rovers lineout was good and the ball was driven infield, Gunn then hit a hard line and was stopped 2 metres out, with the Hartlepool defenders drifting out, Barnfield sniped close to the ruck to squeeze over. The conversion was missed. (5-7, 11 Mins).
Rovers good spell continued 16 minutes, when from another ruck infringement, the ball was again kicked into the Hartlepool 22, once again Church provided lineout ball at the front and the Rovers pack moved Hartlepool infield and towards their own line. This provided BARNFIELD with a blind-side and the scrum-half sneaked up the touchline to score in his grandmothers back garden. The touchline conversion was missed. (10-7, 16 Mins).
Rovers were well on top and looked dangerous whenever they moved the ball, on 22 minutes they added their 3rd try, when from a good move, Rochester spotted a gap in the back field and kicked the ball into space. Trimble chased hard and tackled the Hartlepool full-back forcing a turnover. The ball was swiftly moved left, and KEERS took a loop pass from Healey to win the race to score in the Touchdown corner, however once again the conversion was from the touchline and was missed. (15-7, 22 Mins).
Hartlepool then started to assert themselves through good tight forward drives and started to put the Rover pack under some pressure. This resulted in them getting better field position and winning a number of penalties. On 34 minutes this play was rewarded when from a good scrum platform, the ball was moved to the right with a crash ball setting up an attacking position 5 metres out the ball was popped to the prop who crashed over for the try out wide. The conversion was missed. (15-12, 33 Mins).
Rovers finished the half back on top and won a number of penalties as they moved up-field, this ended with HEALEY putting over a kick from the 22, right on the half-time whistle. (18-12, 40 Mins.)
Half Time 18-12
The second half started with both sides playing to their strengths with Rovers moving the ball well and the Hartlepool forwards driving hard when they had the ball. The next score came from a typical finish by RAILTON, some good driving play made inroads in the Hartlepool defence with Baxter to the fore, the ball was then popped to RAILTON and he powered over for a good team try. The conversion was successful by Healey. (25-12, 50 Mins).
This score stung Hartlepool into life and the excellent hard running by the visiting number 8 was rewarded when from a clever dummy by the stand-off broke the Rovers defence, he ran a good support line to score next to the posts to allow the stand-off to kick the routine conversion. (25-19, 59 Mins).
The game was now in the balance and for the 1st time Rovers seemed to go into their shell and Hartlepool were pushing for the converted try that would push them ahead.
The Hartlepool efforts were rewarded again thanks to the visiting number 8 who proved his versatility by moving to the centre, he was on the end of a good outside break and managed to hand off the last Rovers defender to score in the corner. The conversion fell short. (25-24, 73 Mins).
Rovers were now under real pressure, however they looked to have scored the winning try, when Rochester made a break and looked favourite to score but he was stopped short and the ball knocked on in a great position, this allowed Hartlepool to clear their lines and work their way back up field.
Rovers made another couple of opportunities as the game moved into the last few minutes but bad passing or the wrong option was taken, however they did win a penalty in front of the posts on 76 minutes. Healey slotted the kick (28-24, 76 Mins).
Hartlepool now had it all to do and a where helped when Rovers failed to deal with the kick off correctly, giving the Hartlepool forward a chance to scrummage on the edge of the 22, they won a scrum penalty and kicked the ball to the corner, the game was in the balance and a good lineout drill found Hartlepool moving the ball infield towards the Rovers line, The Rovers defence held but a clever switch of play found the prop 2 metres out and he forced his was over for the try. The conversion was missed. (28-29, 80 Mins).
The kick-off was taken and the ball was cleared into touch to end the game.
Hartlepool deserve credit for a never say die attitude, but once again Rovers contributed to their own undoing against their neighbours and seemed to take their foot of the gas when the had Hartlepool on the ropes. Then there is the matter of the conversion kick that was incorrectly awarded to Hartlepool but that was very early in the game and Rovers had opportunities to put the game to bed but failed to take them.

Rovers: Barnfield M., Trimble, Keers, Gunn, Railton, Rochester, Barnfield, Lloyd, Healey, Wise, Smith, Baxter, Charters, Church, Dring.
Subs: Harrison, Railton, Ross, Reed, Wilkins, Dean, Carroll (All Used).