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Durham University Pull Away in the End
Lee Saunders15 Dec - 12:57
Hartlepool Rovers were in contention but injuries and a strong home finish meant they returned home with nothing to show for their efforts
Hartlepool Rovers faced a Durham University side who moved the game from Durham City’s ground to the 3G pitch at Maiden Castle, a surface alien to Rovers but which suited the young university sides gameplan.
The students started the game well and forced Rovers back with some enterprising play, with the winger making a run before being tackled into touch. The Rovers lineout was good and the ball was won clearly but when Rovers drove the ball infield, the ball was knocked on in contact. The home standoff scooped up the bouncing ball and attacked the blindside with a clever, jinking run to feed the supporting winger to go over in the corner. The touchline conversion was missed. (5-0, 2 Mins).
Rovers kicked off and retained possession through a number of phases, with referee Harrington playing advantage they moved the ball at pace and looked dangerous before running out of support. The penalty award was kicked over by M.BARNFIELD. (5-3, 6 Mins).
The away forwards were putting the young university pack under pressure in the forward exchanges with some good direct play and quick rucks but the home sides tackling was excellent throughout the game. Rovers were then pressed back into defence when from a midfield turnover the ball was kicked to just outside the visitors 22. Once again the ball was won but knocked on in transfer to the back of the maul, once again the ball was moved to the home standoff, who once again attacked blind and fed the fullback to go over in the corner. (10-3, 17 Mins).
The visitors then stepped their intensity up and ran hard at the home defence, forcing a series of penalties. Barnfield kept them on the front foot with a series of tap and go’s, referee Harrigton’s patience finally ran out with the home side and he dispatched the home sides prop to the sinbin for not rolling away and stopping the ball from a ruck close to the home line. Rovers elected for a scrum and a good drive from Gunn got them to 1m out there MAGUIRE picked up and forced his way over under the posts. BARNFIELD kicked the easy conversion. (10-10, 26 Mins).
Rovers were well on top now and forced the home side to continue to give penalties away, from a penalty award just in their own half, Barnfield went quickly and made 45 metres with a jinking run. The ruck was secured and quick ball was moved to LITTLE who forced his way over under the posts. BARNFIELD kicked the conversion. (10-17, 29 Mins).
The dangerous Durham backs were moving the ball well with the home centre causing Rovers problems with some dangerous runs. On 36 minutes the home side attacked from a lineout and moved the ball quickly along the backline, the Rovers defence was stretched but they managed to keep the home side out. The ball was moved back infield and the home centre hit a good line but was tackled well, the ruck was quick and the ball switched to the blindside where the flanker was lurking. He took the ball at pace and beat two tacklers to go over in the corner. The conversion was missed. (15-17, 36 Mins).
Rovers restarted but knocked on giving the home side a good attacking platform and they took advantage to move into position to score in the last minute of the half, when once again they turned the ball over from a Rovers lineout. The home scrum half went quickly and fed the flanker who drove over for the try. The conversion was missed with the last kick of the half. (20-17)
Half Time 20-17
It was all to play for and with the game in the balance, Rovers continued to press and were held up over the line on two separate occasions. Durham’s lively backs were causing Rovers problems when they moved the ball but the Rovers defence was well organsied and no points were score for the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half.
Rovers suffered injuries to their backline, causing players to be played out of position and they suffered with the Durham backs now finding gaps. The home side got the all important try that put some distance between the 2 sides on 61 minutes, when from good support play the flanker broke clear on the visitors 22 and scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. (25-17, 61 Mins).
Durham were now stretching a tiring Rovers defence and on 65 minutes they goat the try which put the result out of Rovers reach. The home backline moved the ball quickly to the dangerous centre who made a great outside break and fed the winger who made ground before feeding the home scrumhalf who was supporting on the inside, he took the ball and managed to make it to the line when being tackled. The conversion was kicked. (32-17, 69 Mins).
With Rovers pushing hard to secure a 4-try bonus point they were pressing hard but once again a knock on was seized upon and the Durham backs moved the ball swiftly and once again the scrum half benefitted from good support play and scored under the posts. The conversion was kicked. (39-17, 78 Mins).
Full Time 39-17
Rovers : Healey, Glaister-Smith, McGuire, Wilson, Little, Reed, Vincent, Gunn©, Barnfield S. , Barnfield M., Harrison, Lithgo, Rochester, Keers, Trimble
Subs: Fawcett, Ross, Charters (All Use)
The students started the game well and forced Rovers back with some enterprising play, with the winger making a run before being tackled into touch. The Rovers lineout was good and the ball was won clearly but when Rovers drove the ball infield, the ball was knocked on in contact. The home standoff scooped up the bouncing ball and attacked the blindside with a clever, jinking run to feed the supporting winger to go over in the corner. The touchline conversion was missed. (5-0, 2 Mins).
Rovers kicked off and retained possession through a number of phases, with referee Harrington playing advantage they moved the ball at pace and looked dangerous before running out of support. The penalty award was kicked over by M.BARNFIELD. (5-3, 6 Mins).
The away forwards were putting the young university pack under pressure in the forward exchanges with some good direct play and quick rucks but the home sides tackling was excellent throughout the game. Rovers were then pressed back into defence when from a midfield turnover the ball was kicked to just outside the visitors 22. Once again the ball was won but knocked on in transfer to the back of the maul, once again the ball was moved to the home standoff, who once again attacked blind and fed the fullback to go over in the corner. (10-3, 17 Mins).
The visitors then stepped their intensity up and ran hard at the home defence, forcing a series of penalties. Barnfield kept them on the front foot with a series of tap and go’s, referee Harrigton’s patience finally ran out with the home side and he dispatched the home sides prop to the sinbin for not rolling away and stopping the ball from a ruck close to the home line. Rovers elected for a scrum and a good drive from Gunn got them to 1m out there MAGUIRE picked up and forced his way over under the posts. BARNFIELD kicked the easy conversion. (10-10, 26 Mins).
Rovers were well on top now and forced the home side to continue to give penalties away, from a penalty award just in their own half, Barnfield went quickly and made 45 metres with a jinking run. The ruck was secured and quick ball was moved to LITTLE who forced his way over under the posts. BARNFIELD kicked the conversion. (10-17, 29 Mins).
The dangerous Durham backs were moving the ball well with the home centre causing Rovers problems with some dangerous runs. On 36 minutes the home side attacked from a lineout and moved the ball quickly along the backline, the Rovers defence was stretched but they managed to keep the home side out. The ball was moved back infield and the home centre hit a good line but was tackled well, the ruck was quick and the ball switched to the blindside where the flanker was lurking. He took the ball at pace and beat two tacklers to go over in the corner. The conversion was missed. (15-17, 36 Mins).
Rovers restarted but knocked on giving the home side a good attacking platform and they took advantage to move into position to score in the last minute of the half, when once again they turned the ball over from a Rovers lineout. The home scrum half went quickly and fed the flanker who drove over for the try. The conversion was missed with the last kick of the half. (20-17)
Half Time 20-17
It was all to play for and with the game in the balance, Rovers continued to press and were held up over the line on two separate occasions. Durham’s lively backs were causing Rovers problems when they moved the ball but the Rovers defence was well organsied and no points were score for the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half.
Rovers suffered injuries to their backline, causing players to be played out of position and they suffered with the Durham backs now finding gaps. The home side got the all important try that put some distance between the 2 sides on 61 minutes, when from good support play the flanker broke clear on the visitors 22 and scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. (25-17, 61 Mins).
Durham were now stretching a tiring Rovers defence and on 65 minutes they goat the try which put the result out of Rovers reach. The home backline moved the ball quickly to the dangerous centre who made a great outside break and fed the winger who made ground before feeding the home scrumhalf who was supporting on the inside, he took the ball and managed to make it to the line when being tackled. The conversion was kicked. (32-17, 69 Mins).
With Rovers pushing hard to secure a 4-try bonus point they were pressing hard but once again a knock on was seized upon and the Durham backs moved the ball swiftly and once again the scrum half benefitted from good support play and scored under the posts. The conversion was kicked. (39-17, 78 Mins).
Full Time 39-17
Rovers : Healey, Glaister-Smith, McGuire, Wilson, Little, Reed, Vincent, Gunn©, Barnfield S. , Barnfield M., Harrison, Lithgo, Rochester, Keers, Trimble
Subs: Fawcett, Ross, Charters (All Use)
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