Mayfield Misery for Rovers

Rovers attacked up the Mayfield Park bank in the 1st half and took the game to the hosts in the early proceedings with some good forward play and strong running from the centres, however not for the first time this season knock-ons or dropped passes put pay to their efforts. From one such knock-on the ball was drilled down the bank by a Hartlepool player and the game was suddenly deep in the Rovers 22.
The Hartlepool pack then turned over possession from the resulting lineout and drove hard at the Rovers defence and forced a ruck penalty, the penalty kick was successful from the Hartlepool standoff. (3-0, 10 Mins).
Rovers again worked their way up the bank but once again forced an unnecessary pass that was swooped on by the Hartlepool back row allowing the home scrum half to put an excellent 50/22 kick. Once again, the Hartlepool lineout was effective and they mauled Rovers toward the try-line before swiftly attacking the blindside, the Rovers defence kept out the initial attack but the referee deemed Rovers to have infringed too many times and sent Lloyd to the sinbin. The Hartlepool pack drove hard at the Rovers defence and another quick ruck allowed the ball to be passed to the home winger who forced his way over in the corner for the try. The conversion was excellently kicked by the home standoff. (10-0 23 Mins).
Rovers eventually put some good play together and showed good handling when from a midfield break from Little who powered into the Hartlepool 22 the visiting pack won quick ruck ball that was moved in field and KEERS hit the line from full-back to score out wide. The conversion kick by Healy hit the post (10-5 28 Mins).
Rovers were now forcing the home side to concede a lot of penalties as they stretched the home defence. From one such penalty Rovers took a quick tap and go and Vincent popped the ball to Little who broke clear and when tackled popped the ball to Gunn who crashed through the home fullback as he powered for the line. He crashed over the line carrying the home scrum half for a try under the posts, however the referee decided that he had made a double movement and awarded the home side a penalty.
Hartlepool failed to make touch and Rovers attacked and when Hartlepool gave away another ruck penalty the referee dismissed the home flanker to the sinbin. The resulting lineout for Rovers was won and they drove for the line but a combination of poor decision making and good home defence kept them out.
Half Time 10-5
With conditions and the bank now in Rovers favour the visiting supporters were feeling confident that the 1st elusive win could be on the cards. However once again Rovers did not use the conditions to their benefit in the early stages of the 2nd half.
They eventually got into the home 22 and were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck and the kick was slotted by Healy (10-8 52 Mins). It seems that every time Rovers have scored this season they immediately make a mess of the restart and gave a needless penalty when trying to pass the ball along their backline in the shadows of their home posts. The penalty was kicked by the home standoff (13-8 54 Mins).
Further hard luck was to follow then Rovers put together some good phased play and forced the home side back to their 22, and from a ruck 15 metres out Dring picked up the ball from the back of the ruck and drove through several players close the ruck to score a try, however once again the referee spotted and infringement that was not apparent to all others watching and disallowed the try but gave Rovers a penalty from the ruck. Rovers spurned the kickable penalty and went to the corner but once again the lineout was wayward, and the ball was cleared up the bank.
Hartlepool were now working hard up the bank and from a midfield ruck they attacked up the blindside and made their way to the Rovers 22, the referee awarded a penalty, and the home scrum half went quickly and made ground before hitting a supporting back row player. The play was not 3 metres out and the home scrum half sniped over for a good try. The conversion was successful. (20-8 64 Mins).
Rovers needed tries now and they worked their way down the bank but once again knock-ons and poor decision making halted any progress when they looked to have stretched the home defence. The game as coming to an end when Rovers won a series of penalties and kept the ball tight with some controlled rucking, this allows McGUIRE to force his way over for a try with the last play of the game. HEALY kicked the conversion, and the referee ended the game.
Fulltime 20-15
Rovers: Flounders, Healy, Lloyd, Ellis, Baxter, Little, Church, Jeffery, Vincent, Rochester, Trimble, Gunn, Barnfield ©, Railton, Keers
Subs: McGuire, Ross, Dring (All Used)

MOM: Little broke the home defence on numerous occasions, but his efforts came to nothing due to a lack of supporting runners.