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Acklam blow Rovers away in the 2nd Half
Lee Saunders8 Jan 2023 - 17:35
Worrying times at the New Friarage
After a great turn out for the Boxing Day game against West, which led to an improved display from Rovers, Coach Smith was hoping that he would have good numbers to pick from for this league encounter. His plans were immediately crushed when he took a role call of availabilities and found only 21 players had made themselves available.
Rovers took to the field and attached the from the kick off, however from a turn-over in midfield the Acklam backs moved the ball swiftly to the right and simply drew the defenders allowing FINKEN-HAYES to score in the corner on 4 minutes. The conversion was missed. (0-5, 4 Mins).
Rovers forward were driving hard at their Acklam counterparts and from a penalty, Barnfield put a penalty kick the corner. The lineout drill was good, and Rovers mauled to 5 metres from the Acklam line. Acklam collapsed the maul and Rovers moved the ball to Dring and the veteran forward drove hard for a try. The conversion was kicked by Fawcett (7-5, 9 Mins).
There then followed a spate of yellow cards as Mr Burchell lost patience with both sides, in total 3 for Acklam and 1 for Rovers.
The game was developing into a stop-start affair as both teams tried to play to their strengths Rovers through their forwards and Acklam through a dangerous backline.
On 32 Minutes, Rovers once again had an opportunity to move down the field with a penalty, the ball was kicked to touch and Rovers drove the resulting line-out, once again Acklam collapsed the maul and Rovers moved the ball infield to GUNN, the centre crashed over for a try. Fawcett converted (14-5, 32 Mins).
With half-time looming, Rovers had a chance to clear their defensive line but managed to play themselves into trouble and from a penalty Acklam had one last chance to attack and from some patient forward play a pop pass allowed DALTON to score. The conversion was missed (14-10, 40 Mins).
Half-Time: 14-10
The 2nd half kicked off with both teams in with a chance of the win however, for the Friarage faithful Rovers produced easily their worst half of rugby this season and the quick Acklam backs picked them of almost at will.
On 43 minutes from an attack in the midfield, Acklam moved the ball left them right and found themselves on the Rovers line, POTGIETER found a gap and went over untouched for an easy try. The conversion was missed. (14-15, 43 Mins).
Rovers attacked again but were halted by a knock-on on 54 minutes, from the scrum Acklam produced an easy 8-9 pick-up but this broke the Rovers midfield and from the resulting scrum Rovers were sucked in and the Acklam full-back made a switch with FINCKEN-HAYNES, who scored unopposed under the posts. The conversion was kicked by ASHTON. (14-22, 54 Mins).
A bit of handbags ensued another Acklam player was yellow carded, however even with 14 men they were next to score on 54 Minutes and once again it was due to poor tackling from Rovers, a long clearance kick was not chased up and the Acklam fullback SWAN was given the freedom of the Friarage and not one hand was placed on him as he ran and swerved for an excellent try, ASHTON kick the extras. (14-29, 60 Mins).
Rovers played some more positive rugby and played themselves into the Acklam 22, from a catch and drive towards the Acklam line, the Acklam open side collapsed the maul from the side and the referee issued him his 2nd Yellow Card which equals a Red Card.
Rovers had a penalty and kicked the ball to the corner; they won the lineout and drove to the line the backs joined the maul and BARNFIELD scored. The conversion was missed. (19-29, 74 Mins).
Acklam despite having only 14 men finished the better of the 2 teams, they attacked with quick hands through the backs and ripped the Rovers back-line to shreds. On 78 minutes THOMAS scored on a pop pass from the stand-off. The conversion was kicked (19-36, 78 Mins).
There was worse to follow when directly from the kick off Acklam moved the ball again and split the Rovers defence allowing swift hands to put ABRAHAM over near to the posts. (19-43, 80 Mins).
Full-time 19-43
Harrison, Ross, Gunn©, Fawcett, Barnfield M., Vincent, Flounders, Ross, Pinchen, Little, O’Callaghan, Dean, Church, Dring
Subs: Healey, Smith, Railton M.
MOM: Flounders – worked in both the tight and around the field in another disappointing day for his team.
Rovers are in real danger of being pulled into the relegation spots in the next few weeks a loss next week and they are in real danger. It is hard to know what more Coach Smith can do when only 21 players make themselves available and training attendances are poor.
Performances can only be improved if players make themselves available for selection and commit to training…..Ask not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club!!!
Rovers took to the field and attached the from the kick off, however from a turn-over in midfield the Acklam backs moved the ball swiftly to the right and simply drew the defenders allowing FINKEN-HAYES to score in the corner on 4 minutes. The conversion was missed. (0-5, 4 Mins).
Rovers forward were driving hard at their Acklam counterparts and from a penalty, Barnfield put a penalty kick the corner. The lineout drill was good, and Rovers mauled to 5 metres from the Acklam line. Acklam collapsed the maul and Rovers moved the ball to Dring and the veteran forward drove hard for a try. The conversion was kicked by Fawcett (7-5, 9 Mins).
There then followed a spate of yellow cards as Mr Burchell lost patience with both sides, in total 3 for Acklam and 1 for Rovers.
The game was developing into a stop-start affair as both teams tried to play to their strengths Rovers through their forwards and Acklam through a dangerous backline.
On 32 Minutes, Rovers once again had an opportunity to move down the field with a penalty, the ball was kicked to touch and Rovers drove the resulting line-out, once again Acklam collapsed the maul and Rovers moved the ball infield to GUNN, the centre crashed over for a try. Fawcett converted (14-5, 32 Mins).
With half-time looming, Rovers had a chance to clear their defensive line but managed to play themselves into trouble and from a penalty Acklam had one last chance to attack and from some patient forward play a pop pass allowed DALTON to score. The conversion was missed (14-10, 40 Mins).
Half-Time: 14-10
The 2nd half kicked off with both teams in with a chance of the win however, for the Friarage faithful Rovers produced easily their worst half of rugby this season and the quick Acklam backs picked them of almost at will.
On 43 minutes from an attack in the midfield, Acklam moved the ball left them right and found themselves on the Rovers line, POTGIETER found a gap and went over untouched for an easy try. The conversion was missed. (14-15, 43 Mins).
Rovers attacked again but were halted by a knock-on on 54 minutes, from the scrum Acklam produced an easy 8-9 pick-up but this broke the Rovers midfield and from the resulting scrum Rovers were sucked in and the Acklam full-back made a switch with FINCKEN-HAYNES, who scored unopposed under the posts. The conversion was kicked by ASHTON. (14-22, 54 Mins).
A bit of handbags ensued another Acklam player was yellow carded, however even with 14 men they were next to score on 54 Minutes and once again it was due to poor tackling from Rovers, a long clearance kick was not chased up and the Acklam fullback SWAN was given the freedom of the Friarage and not one hand was placed on him as he ran and swerved for an excellent try, ASHTON kick the extras. (14-29, 60 Mins).
Rovers played some more positive rugby and played themselves into the Acklam 22, from a catch and drive towards the Acklam line, the Acklam open side collapsed the maul from the side and the referee issued him his 2nd Yellow Card which equals a Red Card.
Rovers had a penalty and kicked the ball to the corner; they won the lineout and drove to the line the backs joined the maul and BARNFIELD scored. The conversion was missed. (19-29, 74 Mins).
Acklam despite having only 14 men finished the better of the 2 teams, they attacked with quick hands through the backs and ripped the Rovers back-line to shreds. On 78 minutes THOMAS scored on a pop pass from the stand-off. The conversion was kicked (19-36, 78 Mins).
There was worse to follow when directly from the kick off Acklam moved the ball again and split the Rovers defence allowing swift hands to put ABRAHAM over near to the posts. (19-43, 80 Mins).
Full-time 19-43
Harrison, Ross, Gunn©, Fawcett, Barnfield M., Vincent, Flounders, Ross, Pinchen, Little, O’Callaghan, Dean, Church, Dring
Subs: Healey, Smith, Railton M.
MOM: Flounders – worked in both the tight and around the field in another disappointing day for his team.
Rovers are in real danger of being pulled into the relegation spots in the next few weeks a loss next week and they are in real danger. It is hard to know what more Coach Smith can do when only 21 players make themselves available and training attendances are poor.
Performances can only be improved if players make themselves available for selection and commit to training…..Ask not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club!!!
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