Rovers were immediately on the attack and from the kick off Rovers controlled possession with some good forward drives, the ball was moved to Harrison on the right wing, he beat his man on the outside and fed the ball inside to the supporting BARNFIELD who dummied and wen to over in the corner for a 1st minute try. The difficult conversion was missed. (5-0, 1 Min).
Rovers were causing Sedgefield with some good forward play and direct running from the backs, on 13 Minutes this play was again rewarded with the try for HARRISON. The move started on the halfway line with a good scrum, this allowed Harrington do drive forward and the ruck ball was moved to Barnfield who put a long miss pass out to the Rovers winger who sprinted over in the corner. Once again, the difficult conversion was missed. (10-0, 13 Mins).
Sedgefield restarted the game and the ball was fielded by O’Callaghan who fed Powell on a crash ball, he broke the defensive line and made 20 metres before offloading in the tackle to Harrington who stormed up the field and drew the last man to pass to the supporting GUNN who ran in from 15 meters under the posts. FAWCETT kicked the conversion. (17-0, 15 Mins).
Rovers great start continued when from the re-start the Sedgefield players were adjudged to be Infront of the kicker by referee Flisher. Rovers elected for a scrum and once again the steady platform allowed Rovers to hit a crash ball in the middle of the field. The ruck was quick and a clever switch of play by Fawcett found DEAN 40 metres out and the back rower sprinted over for a well worked try under the posts. FAWCETT kicked the conversion. (24-0 21 Mins).
Rovers then went to sleep and instead of sticking to the basics that were causing the visitors problems and this allowed Sedgefield back into the game. Sedgefield’s efforts were rewarded on 34 minutes when after several drives by the big Sedgefield pack the ball was moved to the winger who squeezed over in the corner for the try. The touchline conversion was missed. (24-5, 33 Mins).
Sedgefield were not finished and they made their way back up the field and scored with the last play of the half, when from a strong burst by the centre, they secured good ball at the ruck and the ball was moved left and the fullback forced his way over in the corner for a try. The standoff kicked the conversion. (24-12, 40 Mins).
Half Time 24-12
Rovers attacked the clubhouse in the 2nd half, and were immediately on the attack but were kept out by some good Sedgefield tackling. However, on 47 minutes a good lineout was delivered to the backs and the ball passed quickly along the Rovers backline to TRIMBLE, the home fullback swerved and sidestepped around 3 defenders to go under the posts. FAWCETT kicked the conversion. (31-12, 47 Mins).
The fullback got his 2nd try in 5 minutes when from a scrum, Gunn went blind and quick ruck ball was moved to TRIMBLE and he went outside his marker and broke away to score from 50 metres, to score under the posts. (38-12, 57 Mins).
Rovers once again as in the 1st half them got into an unnecessary arm wrestle with the abrasive Sedgefield pack and allowed themselves to move away from their game plan. Eventually, though they returned to the expansive play that had seen them score earlier tries.
On 73 Minutes, Rochester fielded a long kick and beat 2 men, he was tackled on the edge of the 22, the Rovers pack then took over and drove close to the ruck and drew the defenders in. The ball was then moved to the right and ROCHESTER combined with Trimble to put the replacement fullback into space and he sprinted away to round the posts for the try. FAWCETT kicked his final conversion. (45-12, 73 Mins).
Fulltime 45-12
Rovers: Healey, Glaister-Smith, Powell, O’Callaghan, Dean, Maguire, Gunn, Harrington, Vincent, Fawcett, Harrison, Lithgo, Barnfield, Railton, Trimble.
Subs: Pinchen, Rochester, Wilkins (All Used)

MOM: Dean a good shift of hard work by the back row forward