BackSat 16 Mar 2024 · Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
1st XVAcklam
Tries: A Rochester (3), J Keers, M Railton, D Charters, R HarrisonConversions: J Keers (6)
47
5
The Magnificent Seven
Daniel Baxter
Hartlepool Rovers continued their fine form with a second half performance that blew a spirited Acklam side away.
The visitors started the game well and had the home side under pressure in the early going with some flowing back play, the Rovers defence was tested a number of times but managed to hold out until the 20th minute when a burst up the middle allowed the visiting stand-off the opportunity to run a good support line and force his way over in the corner for a good try. The difficult touch line was missed. (0-5, 20 Mins).
The home side seemed nervous and we guilty of making some basic handling errors and tuning over possession to the visiting team. However, the home sides nerves were settled when Rovers stand-off ROCHESTER continued his rich vein of form when he made an outside break from 40 metres and side-stepped the fullback to score a find individual try under the posts. KEERS slotted the conversion. (7-5, 30 Mins).
Acklam pressed hard and forced a series of penalties in and around the home 22 but failed to take advantage of the possession and Rovers made it to half time without surrendering their lead.
Half Time 7-5
Rovers made 2 substitutions at half time with Charters and Lloyd replacing Armstrong and Ross. Whatever the coaches said to the players at half-time certainly had the desired effect and it was that man ROCHESTER who was at it again on the 42nd minute, when from a series of rucks he took a long pass and swerved outside his opposite number and sprinted in from the edge of the 22 to score another excellent try under the posts. KEERS converted the score. (14-5 42 Mins).
Acklam were still proving to be a handful and were causing Rovers to give away penalties when defending their 22, from one such award referee Flisher, sent Maguire to the sin bin for team offences. This seemed to kick start Rovers who started to take the ball on through the pack, with a series of pick and goes. The numbers were evened up by the referee when the visiting prop forward was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball at a ruck.
With both sides playing with 14 men the game was in the balance but it was Rovers who upped their game and on 57 minutes following a break by Charters, KEERS found himself in close support and took a pop pass from Charters as he was tackled and the centre sprinted in at the corner. The touchline conversion was missed. (19-5, 57 Mins).
On 60 minutes Rovers were reduced to 14 men when Maguire was sent off for a no arms tackle. This sparked Acklam in action and they pressed the Rovers defence again, they worked an overlap on the halfway line and moved the ball to the left but ROCHESTER gambled and intercepted to sprint in from 50 metres to score under the posts. Keers once again kicked the conversion. (26-5, 62 Mins).
With the try bonus point in the bag Rovers pressed home their advantage and started to really open up the tiring visiting defence. On 68 minutes RAILTON got in on the try scoring act when a quick tap and go by Barnfield the full back ran a good support line and broke the final tackle to score under the posts. KEERS added the conversion. (33-5, 68 Mins).
Rovers took the kick off clean and Pinchen found himself in the clear and sprinted away into the Acklam half, he was taken down by a high tackle by the visiting stand-off, who was sent to the sin bin.
Rovers were firmly in control now and Charters looked to have scored but fumbled the ball over the line, however he didn’t have to wait long and from some good phase play the back rower took a long pass from Barnfield and forced his way over near to the posts on 75 minutes. Keers continued his good day with the boot and converted the try. (40-5, 75 Mins).
The Acklam captain was yellow carded for team offences as Rovers were no in complete control and the scoring was completed in the 80th minute with a try for HARRISON, who was on the end of a flowing backs move to squeeze over in the corner. Keers added the conversion with the final kick of the match. (47-5, 80 Mins).
MOM: Rochester the Rovers standoff ran the game well and was a constant threat with his dangerous running.
Rovers: Ross T., Maguire, Pinchen, Baxter, Whitehead, Armstrong, Vincent, Dring, Barnfield ©, Rochester, Trimble, Gunn, Keers, Harrison, Railton Subs (All Used) Lloyd, Charters, Ross C.
The home side seemed nervous and we guilty of making some basic handling errors and tuning over possession to the visiting team. However, the home sides nerves were settled when Rovers stand-off ROCHESTER continued his rich vein of form when he made an outside break from 40 metres and side-stepped the fullback to score a find individual try under the posts. KEERS slotted the conversion. (7-5, 30 Mins).
Acklam pressed hard and forced a series of penalties in and around the home 22 but failed to take advantage of the possession and Rovers made it to half time without surrendering their lead.
Half Time 7-5
Rovers made 2 substitutions at half time with Charters and Lloyd replacing Armstrong and Ross. Whatever the coaches said to the players at half-time certainly had the desired effect and it was that man ROCHESTER who was at it again on the 42nd minute, when from a series of rucks he took a long pass and swerved outside his opposite number and sprinted in from the edge of the 22 to score another excellent try under the posts. KEERS converted the score. (14-5 42 Mins).
Acklam were still proving to be a handful and were causing Rovers to give away penalties when defending their 22, from one such award referee Flisher, sent Maguire to the sin bin for team offences. This seemed to kick start Rovers who started to take the ball on through the pack, with a series of pick and goes. The numbers were evened up by the referee when the visiting prop forward was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball at a ruck.
With both sides playing with 14 men the game was in the balance but it was Rovers who upped their game and on 57 minutes following a break by Charters, KEERS found himself in close support and took a pop pass from Charters as he was tackled and the centre sprinted in at the corner. The touchline conversion was missed. (19-5, 57 Mins).
On 60 minutes Rovers were reduced to 14 men when Maguire was sent off for a no arms tackle. This sparked Acklam in action and they pressed the Rovers defence again, they worked an overlap on the halfway line and moved the ball to the left but ROCHESTER gambled and intercepted to sprint in from 50 metres to score under the posts. Keers once again kicked the conversion. (26-5, 62 Mins).
With the try bonus point in the bag Rovers pressed home their advantage and started to really open up the tiring visiting defence. On 68 minutes RAILTON got in on the try scoring act when a quick tap and go by Barnfield the full back ran a good support line and broke the final tackle to score under the posts. KEERS added the conversion. (33-5, 68 Mins).
Rovers took the kick off clean and Pinchen found himself in the clear and sprinted away into the Acklam half, he was taken down by a high tackle by the visiting stand-off, who was sent to the sin bin.
Rovers were firmly in control now and Charters looked to have scored but fumbled the ball over the line, however he didn’t have to wait long and from some good phase play the back rower took a long pass from Barnfield and forced his way over near to the posts on 75 minutes. Keers continued his good day with the boot and converted the try. (40-5, 75 Mins).
The Acklam captain was yellow carded for team offences as Rovers were no in complete control and the scoring was completed in the 80th minute with a try for HARRISON, who was on the end of a flowing backs move to squeeze over in the corner. Keers added the conversion with the final kick of the match. (47-5, 80 Mins).
MOM: Rochester the Rovers standoff ran the game well and was a constant threat with his dangerous running.
Rovers: Ross T., Maguire, Pinchen, Baxter, Whitehead, Armstrong, Vincent, Dring, Barnfield ©, Rochester, Trimble, Gunn, Keers, Harrison, Railton Subs (All Used) Lloyd, Charters, Ross C.
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