Rovers made the long trip north to Blyth for a league fixture, fully aware that despite Blyth sitting at the bottom of the table, this would not be a straightforward contest. Last season’s encounter had shown how tough Blyth can be on their own patch, and the squad knew they would need to be sharp from the start.

There were several changes to the line-up from last week. Josh Wintersgill was handed his first-team debut, Jake McMorris also stepped up for his first senior appearance, and Joe Ward featured in his first league game. In total, there were at least seven changes from the previous outing, and the side included three colts as well as players covering unfamiliar positions. It was a big test of depth and adaptability.

Rovers have been guilty of slow starts in recent weeks, but not today. They came out firing and struck early when Kieran Wright finished off a well-worked move to score the opening try. The conversion was missed, but the early points helped settle any nerves and gave Rovers a platform to build on.

However, Blyth responded quickly. Using their big runners to punch holes in the defence, they worked through several phases and eventually crossed the line. With the conversion added, Blyth took a 7-5 lead and suddenly looked full of confidence.
The home side pressed hard and found themselves in a dangerous position just 10 metres out, but Rovers showed great awareness. Rochester read the play perfectly, intercepted the ball, and kicked long downfield. O’Callaghan chased hard, turned over possession, and quick hands moved the ball wide for Trimble to score in the corner. Fawcett slotted the conversion to restore the lead at 7-12.

Trimble was involved again soon after. Fielding a kick, he linked up with Wright, who looked set to be tackled but produced a clever infield kick. Trimble gathered and finished for his second try of the afternoon. Fawcett converted, and Rovers were in control at 7-19.

The first half ended with Rovers ahead and enjoying the benefit of a strong wind. Fawcett used the conditions superbly, landing several 50:22 kicks to keep Blyth pinned back. At the break, the visitors knew the second half would be tougher as they turned to play into the wind.

The restart could hardly have gone worse. No one claimed the kick-off, allowing the ball to bounce into Blyth hands. A few phases later, they scored. The conversion was missed, but the gap closed to 12-19 and the momentum shifted.

Rovers needed to steady themselves, and they did so after a powerful carry from Smith earned a penalty. Dazz stepped up and calmly slotted the kick to make it 12-22.

Moments later came a moment of individual brilliance. BGS delivered a clever inside pass to Calvert, who took the ball on the Blyth 10-metre line. The number eight still had plenty to do, but he powered through defenders and finished a superb solo try – a “Kev Dunn-esque” effort that had the travelling supporters on their feet. The score moved to 12-27.

Blyth refused to roll over and hit back with a well-taken try in the corner after sustained pressure, narrowing the gap to 21-27.

The introduction of McMorris and Ward gave Rovers fresh impetus. Rochester showed quick feet and offloaded to Trimble, who completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish. The conversion pushed the score to 21-32, and Rovers began to pull away.
From there, the visitors dominated. A tapped penalty saw Gunn crash through the defence for another try, extending the lead to 21-39. Carries from Ward and McMorris continued to punch holes in the Blyth line, and eventually the ball was worked wide for Wright to cross again. That sealed the win at 21-44.

Full-time: Blyth 21 – Rovers 44.
It was a strong performance from Rovers, marked by sharp attacking play, resilience under pressure, and contributions from debutants who added real impact. Trimble’s hat-trick was the headline, but there were standout moments across the team.

Coach Smith’s Reaction: 
“It was an impressive display today. At least seven changes from last week and three players making debuts. We had three colts in the team and players playing out of position. But all the lads worked so hard for each other and the team. They did the basics well and ended up with a comfortable win. But credit to Blyth – their performance today doesn’t reflect their league position.”

Man of the Match: 
Blyth voted Dazz Fawcett as their choice for Man of the Match, recognising his influence with the boot and his control of the game.