A much-changed Rovers side kicked off on a warm and bright day at the New Friarage but were immediately put under pressure from a speedy Consett side.
The visitors took the lead on 3 minutes, when they pressurised a Rovers scrum and the Consett scrum half swooped onto the ball and broke away, when he was tackled, he popped the ball to the stand-off who scored under the posts. The conversion was kicked (0-7, 3 mins).
There was no let up for the hosts and the lead was extended on 5 minutes when from a midfield break by the outside centre the ball was switched to the supporting scrumhalf who has a clear run in under the posts. Once again, the conversion was good. (0-14, 5 mins).
Consett were having everything their own way and this continued when from a penalty award the ball was kicked deep into the Rovers 22, the Consett lineout was good, and they looked to set-up a driving maul. This was a trick move, and the ball was instead popped to the hooker who peeled around the back of the line-out and powered through 2 tacklers to score next to the posts. The Consett kicker maintained his record and added the extra points. (0-21. 9 Mins).
Rovers were shell-shocked and had not had any possession so far, they finally got hold of the ball and moved it upfield with Lloyd and Gunn prominent, but once again the move was stopped by a turnover in midfield. The penalty was once again kicked to the corner and Consett moved the lineout ball infield with clever running lines, the ruck ball was won ten metres out and the scrumhalf hit the blindside and found the second row out wide, he powered over for another Consett try. The difficult conversion was missed. (0-26, 13 mins).
Rovers once again kicked off however this time the won possession back and moved play into the Consett half, but the away teams defence kept them out. The visitors eventually cleared the ball, but it was taken back by Keers. The centre set up a ruck on the halfway line and the ball moved to Rochester, who spotted Trimble wide and hit him with a Crossfield kick. The winger was tackled and set up a ruck, the ball was one quick and Barnfield fed TRIMBLE up the blindside and the winger finished superbly in the corner. The difficult touchline conversion was missed. (5-26, 18 mins).
Rovers were now taking the game to the visitors and set up another attack on the edge of the Consett 22, with the home side having numbers to the right the Consett fullback deliberately knocked the ball on and was sent to the sinbin by referee Lacey. Rovers kept the momentum going by taking a tap and go and after some good driving play the ball was moved to HARRISON who finished smartly in the corner. The conversion drifted across the front of the posts. (10-26, 24 mins).
Consett were stung into action and attacked hard from the re-start wining a penalty for holding on, the ball was kicked to touch and once again the lineout drill was good, the Rovers defence were looking for the hooker peeling round again but he was used a decoy and the ball passed behind him to the supporting centre who burst through for the try. The conversion was added. (10-33, 32 mins).
The visitors were playing some great rugby especially the scrum half who scored next, when a rushed clearance kick failed to hit touch and was returned by the visitors fullback, he burst away from the 1st tackle and when he was halted the scrumhalf was close by in support and he took the ball at speed and scored under the posts. The routine conversion was added. (10-40, 38 mins).
Rovers had the last say in the half with another TRIMBLE special, the ball was driven forward by Gunn and then the supporting Ellis hit a good line. When the back rower was tackled the ball was moved swiftly to the home winger, who still had a lot to do, he swerved around the covering defender and then side-stepped the next player before displaying neat footwork to side-step the covering scrum-half to finish under the posts. Barnfield added the conversion. (17-40, 40 mins).
Half Time 17-40
Rovers started the 2nd half on the front foot and started to force Consett into giving away a number of penalties. The visiting prop forward was fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a no arm tackle that made contact with Rochester’s head, but referee Lacey decided that there was mitigating circumstances and only produced a yellow card.
Rovers were putting in a great amount of effort but with the changes to the team the play was all a bit disjointed.
Consett hit rovers with another good try on 49 minutes when from a set move the away hooker hit a good line to set up a midfield ruck, the ball was spun to the blindside to the winger who drew his mad and popped the ball to the looping scrum half who scored in the corner. The touchline conversion was missed. (17-45, 49 mins).
Rovers were rewarded for their efforts when HARRISON finished a flowing back move well when the went inside and outside his man to finish in the corner on 53 minutes. The touchline conversion hit the post. (22-45, 53 mins).
Consett relied on 59 minutes when from a 5-metre scrum they drove the Rovers pack over their own line for the visiting number 8 to score. The conversion was kicked. (22-52, 59 mins).
With injures Rovers were now playing with a winger, full-back and a scrumhalf in the backrow but they dug in and attacked Consett at every opportunity, the home sides efforts were rewarded when from a lineout, the normally accurate Consett drill dropped the ball and Railton S. swooped onto the bouncing ball for an opportunist try. Barnfield added the extras. (29-52, 73 Mins).
Consett were desperate to finish on top and scored two quick tries through their centre and the fullback (1 converted) to end the game.

Full time 29 – 64

Rovers: Barnfield M., Harrison, Keers, Gunn, Trimble, Rochester, Barnfield S., Wise, Healey, Pinchen, Smith, Cairns, Maguire, Ellis, Lloyd
Subs: Railton S., Railton C., Powell, Arnell

Man of the Match: Cairns – an afternoon of hard work from the 2nd row.