Tough tackling just wasn't enough

First blood and indeed second blood went to Westoe who rattled in a couple of tries out wide before Rovers had had a chance to settle.

Rovers then seemed to get into their stride and strong running from Begley, Olley & Mulvihill eventually led to good a matched passage of play with both sets of backs showing each other a clean pair of heels when the opportunity arose.

Rovers then suffered a double blow with Nathan Olley retiring injured and Craig Bullock sent to the bin, we were down to 13 men and what was already an uphill climb became a damage limitation exercise. Rovers finished the half reasonably well with three tries to Westoes five.

Olley was unable to continue after half time and we played the whole of the 2nd half with 14 men, whilst Westoe where able to rotate from their bench. Rovers, despite coming under an enormous amount of pressure tackled like demons and forced Westoe to, when they did score, to score out wide. Rovers struggled to keep any possession, as Westoe made the extra man count. Fawcett regularly relieved the pressure kicking downfield for touch and Rovers 5 man line out worked really well, with Padget regularly making yards with the catch and drive, all game. Westoe just had too much pace and their strong support running led to five move unanswered tries the last being converted in the last kick of the game.

Many positives can be taken from the game with the work rate and ferocity of the defence being top most amongst them along with attitude and commitment. With the likes of Austwicke, Little, Cushlow, Hanley, Gregory and one or two other players returning in the next couple of weeks, we should see a more settled team.

Team: Cooper, Bullock, Tucker (Capt.) White, Langley, Fleet, Begley, Padget, Stephenson, Fawcett, Gallagher, Olley, Mulvihill, Thomas, Harrison. Subs used: NONE!