Consett 2nds 36 - 33 Rovers Heughers

By a very special correspondent

Rovers travelled to Consett Rugby club under temporary management with a squad mixed with youth and experience.

A slow start has been a habit for Rovers sides most of this season and this happened again when a quick lad (not Disco) weaved his way through some half hearted tackles to open the scoring for Consett. Leading from the front Ian Pinchen barged his way over for a powerful Rovers try with Daz converting for a 7-5 lead. The first half was pretty even with the wind playing a part in the kicking game and also effecting the lineouts. The Rovers pack was holding its own with Craig Vincent getting the ball out to Daz who in turn fed a hungry Rovers backline with Grandy and Ste Railton making excellent ground with ball in hand. Consett gradually got stronger as the half went on and retook the lead with a Stu Grazier trade mark try as he used his” bulk” to barge over. The Heughers came straight back at Consett spreading the ball out wide with Riley Davis having a few good runs but was met with some strong Consett defence. Captain Fantastic David Grand made the Rovers pressure count as he crossed to retake the lead with another Daz conversion. Consett again started to take control late in the second half as they gained momentum in the scrums and territory and the pressure told as they crossed again with some much to be desired defence to hold a 19-14 lead at half time. Highlight of the first half was Disco getting sat down by Ste Railton and the ref being “un-sighted” for a Disco try only for AJ to have his hand neatly tucked under the ball.

Team Church and Chirpy rang the changes in the second half to ensure everyone gained some game time. (Balancing the “niggles” of the front row is a job in its own)!

The second half was a cracker especially when young Bailey Flounders scored probably the try of the season as he steam rolled his way under the posts as he stepped, pushed and bounced Consett players off him on the way to the Consett try line to retake the lead 19-21 (He’s not known as the Big Game Hunter for nothing) Consett came back strong scoring 2 tries from some good play and some poor defence from Rovers. Highlight #2,3 & 4 was Disco getting sat down again by Ste and Pinhead and again being victim of an unsighted ref ! With Captain Fantastic resting on the side lines his replacement Liam Armstrong decided to get into the game with some barging runs that got Rovers back on the front foot and the team was rewarded with a typical Ste Railton try. Now firmly on the front foot Taz, AJ and Armstrong combined well and Taz dotted down under the posts for Rovers to take the lead 32-33 with 8 mins remaining. Using penalties and their dominance in the scrums Consett worked their way back down the pitch to cross for an unconverted try to retake the lead and again it must be said with some weak defence from Rovers . There was still time for one final push from Rovers for that winning try as they worked their way back into the Consett half but a knock on signalled the end of the game with Consett running out 36-33 winners with huge cheers and sigh of relief from the home team in a humdinger of game for the many spectators on the side lines.

Bailey was man of the match for his second half display but the team should all be proud of being involved in a great game that we could have won. AJ playing No8 again was outstanding tackling everything that moved, its hard to believe he used to be just a tiny skinny little fullback that tackled everything that moved! Many thanks to all the lads especially my right hand man Chirpy and to the Rovers support all the way up at Consett. The key word we came away with though is TRAINING, lets get down to it and lets get better at it!

D**k of the day went to someone not on the pitch but as news filtered through of someone getting on the train without his tickets for the Falcons game is could only go to one person, well done Glyn Hewitt !!

Don(t forget the Heughers are at home to Stockton Saracens in the Candy Final on Friday night 29th March under lights