Back
Rovers Stutter to Victory
Lee Saunders14 Oct 2024 - 09:04
Rovers overcome difficult opponents but fail to convert pressure into a bonus-point victory.
Hartlepool Rovers kicked off on a cloudy and rainy New Friarage knowing that an improvement was needed on last weeks poor display, if they were to dispatch a Houghton side that had proved difficult opposition against teams at the top of the league.
Houghton controlled the early part of the game, with some good forward play and got their rewards when they work their way deep into the Rovers 22 and a clever switch allowed the visiting flanker on the crash ball and he forced his way over out wide for a good try. The difficult conversion was missed. (0-5, 4 Mins).
On 6 mins, Rovers started to move the ball better in the difficult conditions and moved into the Houghton half, just when it seemed the move had petered out, Little hit a great line close to the ruck and broke through the defensive line, the Rovers support was swift and GUNN received the ball on the visitors 22 and he drove hard for the try. The conversion was kicked by Barnfield. (7-5, 7 Mins).
Houghton were proving to be difficult opponents with their direct running and moved ahead on 12 mins, when they drove hard at the Rovers defence and Rovers tackled too high, the penalty kick on the 22 was easily slotted. (7-8, 12 Mins).
The game was now being played in the centre of the field, with the conditions playing its part causing the slippy ball to be knocked on in contact several time by both sides.
Rovers started to pin Houghton back with some astute kicking from Fawcett and they started to squeeze Houghton deep into their 22, from a ruck the Rovers back row managed to get over the ball and force a penalty for holding on. The penalty kick was in front of the posts 20 metres out and was duly kicked over by Barnfield. (10-8, 31Mins).
Houghton attacked from the kick off and forced Rovers back into their 22, they played for the next 5 minutes on the attack and were met with some good home defence. On 39 minutes Rovers finally forced a turnover on the edge of their 22. The ball was moved to Fawcett who noticed that the Houghton defence was narrow, he put a clever cross field kick to Harrison on the wing, the Rovers winger took the ball at pace and stepped inside beating 2 men, with the covering Houghton defence shutting down his options, the Rovers winger kicked the ball up field for TRIMBLE to chase. Despite being 2nd favourite the winger chased hard and when the rugby ball bounced up between two Houghton players he nipped in and stole possession to sprint away to score under the posts. Barnfield kicked the conversion. (17-8, 39 Mins).
Half Time 17-8
The 2nd half started slowly as both sides gave away needless penalties, stopping any momentum from building. On 59 minutes Houghton forced Rovers back and when a penalty was conceded for hands in the ruck the ball was kicked 10 metres out for an attacking lineout to the visitors. The drill was good, and they moved the Rovers pack towards their won line, the maul was collapsed, and a penalty was awarded, Houghton moved the ball playing under advantage and once again the visiting Flanker cut a clever line and forced his way over for another try. The easy conversion was added. (17-15, 60 mins).
This stung Rovers into action and the restart, Rochester who had replaced the injured Barnfield attacked the ball and won possession back for his side, Houghton conceded a penalty, and the ball was kicked deep into the visiting 22. The Rovers lineout was good, and possession was secured, The Rovers pack drove hard for the line with Little and Smith prominent. They made their way to within 1 metre of the line and REED picked up and forced his way over. The conversion was kicked by Fawcett (24-15, 63 Mins).
Rovers now had a chance to ush for the all-important bonus point, but once again they were guilty of making poor decisions when in good potential positions on the field. Their efforts were also hampered by the fact that on 73 minutes Harrison was yellow carded for a high tackle, closely followed by Little for the same offence, however, it must be said that both decisions baffled the home supporters as previous offences had been let go by the referee.
The game finished with Houghton on the attack, and they forced a penalty in the last play, after some consultation they took the easy kick at goal which was kicked to allow them to finish within 7 points of Rovers and gain an additional bonus point.
Full Time 24-18
Rovers: Healey, Glaister-Smith, Powell, Wilson, Little, Reed, Vincent, Gunn ©, Railton, Fawcett, Harrison, Lithgo, Keers, Trimble, Barnfield
Subs: Smith, Rochester, Van Niekerk (All used).
MOM: Gunn – in an unaccustomed position controlled the ball well at the back of the scrum and drove hard all game.
Houghton controlled the early part of the game, with some good forward play and got their rewards when they work their way deep into the Rovers 22 and a clever switch allowed the visiting flanker on the crash ball and he forced his way over out wide for a good try. The difficult conversion was missed. (0-5, 4 Mins).
On 6 mins, Rovers started to move the ball better in the difficult conditions and moved into the Houghton half, just when it seemed the move had petered out, Little hit a great line close to the ruck and broke through the defensive line, the Rovers support was swift and GUNN received the ball on the visitors 22 and he drove hard for the try. The conversion was kicked by Barnfield. (7-5, 7 Mins).
Houghton were proving to be difficult opponents with their direct running and moved ahead on 12 mins, when they drove hard at the Rovers defence and Rovers tackled too high, the penalty kick on the 22 was easily slotted. (7-8, 12 Mins).
The game was now being played in the centre of the field, with the conditions playing its part causing the slippy ball to be knocked on in contact several time by both sides.
Rovers started to pin Houghton back with some astute kicking from Fawcett and they started to squeeze Houghton deep into their 22, from a ruck the Rovers back row managed to get over the ball and force a penalty for holding on. The penalty kick was in front of the posts 20 metres out and was duly kicked over by Barnfield. (10-8, 31Mins).
Houghton attacked from the kick off and forced Rovers back into their 22, they played for the next 5 minutes on the attack and were met with some good home defence. On 39 minutes Rovers finally forced a turnover on the edge of their 22. The ball was moved to Fawcett who noticed that the Houghton defence was narrow, he put a clever cross field kick to Harrison on the wing, the Rovers winger took the ball at pace and stepped inside beating 2 men, with the covering Houghton defence shutting down his options, the Rovers winger kicked the ball up field for TRIMBLE to chase. Despite being 2nd favourite the winger chased hard and when the rugby ball bounced up between two Houghton players he nipped in and stole possession to sprint away to score under the posts. Barnfield kicked the conversion. (17-8, 39 Mins).
Half Time 17-8
The 2nd half started slowly as both sides gave away needless penalties, stopping any momentum from building. On 59 minutes Houghton forced Rovers back and when a penalty was conceded for hands in the ruck the ball was kicked 10 metres out for an attacking lineout to the visitors. The drill was good, and they moved the Rovers pack towards their won line, the maul was collapsed, and a penalty was awarded, Houghton moved the ball playing under advantage and once again the visiting Flanker cut a clever line and forced his way over for another try. The easy conversion was added. (17-15, 60 mins).
This stung Rovers into action and the restart, Rochester who had replaced the injured Barnfield attacked the ball and won possession back for his side, Houghton conceded a penalty, and the ball was kicked deep into the visiting 22. The Rovers lineout was good, and possession was secured, The Rovers pack drove hard for the line with Little and Smith prominent. They made their way to within 1 metre of the line and REED picked up and forced his way over. The conversion was kicked by Fawcett (24-15, 63 Mins).
Rovers now had a chance to ush for the all-important bonus point, but once again they were guilty of making poor decisions when in good potential positions on the field. Their efforts were also hampered by the fact that on 73 minutes Harrison was yellow carded for a high tackle, closely followed by Little for the same offence, however, it must be said that both decisions baffled the home supporters as previous offences had been let go by the referee.
The game finished with Houghton on the attack, and they forced a penalty in the last play, after some consultation they took the easy kick at goal which was kicked to allow them to finish within 7 points of Rovers and gain an additional bonus point.
Full Time 24-18
Rovers: Healey, Glaister-Smith, Powell, Wilson, Little, Reed, Vincent, Gunn ©, Railton, Fawcett, Harrison, Lithgo, Keers, Trimble, Barnfield
Subs: Smith, Rochester, Van Niekerk (All used).
MOM: Gunn – in an unaccustomed position controlled the ball well at the back of the scrum and drove hard all game.
Further reading