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Strong 2nd Half Display sees Rovers Home
Lee Saunders3 Nov - 12:14
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Hartlepool Rovers stepped up the intensity in the 2nd half to pull away from Ashington.
Hartlepool Rovers produced some of their best rugby of the season in the 2nd half to pull away from a well-drilled Ashington side.
The game kicked off after am impeccably observed minutes silence held for Micheal Hanley and Rovers immediately took the game to the visitors, from an early penalty at a ruck awarded from referee Mr Flisher, Rovers fired the ball into the Ashington 22, the Rovers lineout has been practising hard and the ball was won cleanly to set up a driving maul which powered over the visitors line with GLASITER-SMITH controlling from the back to score the early try. The conversion was kicked by Barnfield. (7-0, 6 Mins).
The large Ashington pack were well drilled in both the scrum and lineout and were causing Rovers issues in the set pieces, but Rovers with some clever play managed to keep the ball away from the forward confrontations. On one such occasion the ball was moved along the Rovers 22 and found Trimble who set off on a run sidestepping 2 defenders, which was ended when he was tackled high and from the resulting penalty, the returning Ste Barnfield went quickly catching the visitors retreating, the scrum half found Lithgo in support who timed his pass to KEERS who sprinted in for the try. Barnfield converted (14-0, 12 Mins).
Ashington won a series of scrum penalties and worked their way up field into Rovers territory. The visiting forward pack then took over and drove hard at the Rovers defence, winning quick ruck ball. A clever switch in the centres found the visiting Flanker who went over under the posts. The try was converted. (14-7, 17 Mins).
Rovers were next to score when form a lineout on their own 22, the ball was won and once again from a penalty award, Barnfield went quickly making 30 metres he popped the ball out of the tackle to the supporting Gunn, who drove forward hard bursting 2 tackles and then timed his pass perfectly to supporting back row colleague CHARTERS to drive over the line for a great team try. Barnfield converted (21-7, 26 Mins).
Once again Ashington came roaring back and forced a series of penalties at the ruck, they finally found themselves deep in the home 22 and a snipping run from the visitors scum-half once again found support from the hard-working flanker who went over for his 2nd of the game, the visiting stand-off converted. (21-14).
Half time 21-14
With the instructions from coach Smith still fresh in their ears, Rovers started the 2nd half at breakneck speed. They attacked from the restart and were almost rewarded when Pinchen drove hard for the line after a break by Little. The referee awarded a goal line drop out, which was fielded by Keers who ran hard into the 22, Rovers won some quick ruck ball and LITTLE came on a late run to crash over for the try. Barnfield Converted. (28-14, 43 Mins).
Rovers pushed further clear on 49 mins when from an attacking scrum the ball was moved cleanly along the backline and Harrison went for the line, the winger was tackled short but managed to set up the ruck. The ball was won and KEERS appeared at the back of the ruck and squeezed over from close range. (35-15, 49 Mins).
The Rovers pack eventually got to grips with the good Ashington scrum, this allowed the Rovers backs to continue to play with a tempo that Ashington struggled to live with. On 57 minutes from a steady scrum on their 22, the ball was moved quickly to Trimble who set of on a 50-metre run, when he was eventually caught the service from Barnfield was swift and he hit LITTLE who arrived at pace to break clear to score a superb try. Barnfield missed the difficult conversion. (45-14, 57 Mins).
The final try came on the 63rd minute when KEERS continued his fine early season form when he crossed for his 13th try of the season, once again Trimble who excelled at in the open spaces of fullback found a gap and beat the on-rushing defence, he was eventually closed down but cleverly chipped the ball infield for the supporting KEERS who dribbled the ball over the line to score. Barnfield converted. (47-14, 63 Mins).
The remainder of the game was played out in midfield, with Ashington pushing for further tries and good Rovers defence keeping them at bay.
Full time 47-14
Rovers : Fenwick, Glaister-Smith, Pinchen, Wilson, Little, Reed, Charters, Gunn©, Barnfield S. , Barnfield M., Harrison, Lithgo, Keers, Railton, Trimble
Subs: Harrington, Cairns, Vincent
MOM: Stephen Barnfield got Rovers on the front foot with clever scrum-half play.
The game kicked off after am impeccably observed minutes silence held for Micheal Hanley and Rovers immediately took the game to the visitors, from an early penalty at a ruck awarded from referee Mr Flisher, Rovers fired the ball into the Ashington 22, the Rovers lineout has been practising hard and the ball was won cleanly to set up a driving maul which powered over the visitors line with GLASITER-SMITH controlling from the back to score the early try. The conversion was kicked by Barnfield. (7-0, 6 Mins).
The large Ashington pack were well drilled in both the scrum and lineout and were causing Rovers issues in the set pieces, but Rovers with some clever play managed to keep the ball away from the forward confrontations. On one such occasion the ball was moved along the Rovers 22 and found Trimble who set off on a run sidestepping 2 defenders, which was ended when he was tackled high and from the resulting penalty, the returning Ste Barnfield went quickly catching the visitors retreating, the scrum half found Lithgo in support who timed his pass to KEERS who sprinted in for the try. Barnfield converted (14-0, 12 Mins).
Ashington won a series of scrum penalties and worked their way up field into Rovers territory. The visiting forward pack then took over and drove hard at the Rovers defence, winning quick ruck ball. A clever switch in the centres found the visiting Flanker who went over under the posts. The try was converted. (14-7, 17 Mins).
Rovers were next to score when form a lineout on their own 22, the ball was won and once again from a penalty award, Barnfield went quickly making 30 metres he popped the ball out of the tackle to the supporting Gunn, who drove forward hard bursting 2 tackles and then timed his pass perfectly to supporting back row colleague CHARTERS to drive over the line for a great team try. Barnfield converted (21-7, 26 Mins).
Once again Ashington came roaring back and forced a series of penalties at the ruck, they finally found themselves deep in the home 22 and a snipping run from the visitors scum-half once again found support from the hard-working flanker who went over for his 2nd of the game, the visiting stand-off converted. (21-14).
Half time 21-14
With the instructions from coach Smith still fresh in their ears, Rovers started the 2nd half at breakneck speed. They attacked from the restart and were almost rewarded when Pinchen drove hard for the line after a break by Little. The referee awarded a goal line drop out, which was fielded by Keers who ran hard into the 22, Rovers won some quick ruck ball and LITTLE came on a late run to crash over for the try. Barnfield Converted. (28-14, 43 Mins).
Rovers pushed further clear on 49 mins when from an attacking scrum the ball was moved cleanly along the backline and Harrison went for the line, the winger was tackled short but managed to set up the ruck. The ball was won and KEERS appeared at the back of the ruck and squeezed over from close range. (35-15, 49 Mins).
The Rovers pack eventually got to grips with the good Ashington scrum, this allowed the Rovers backs to continue to play with a tempo that Ashington struggled to live with. On 57 minutes from a steady scrum on their 22, the ball was moved quickly to Trimble who set of on a 50-metre run, when he was eventually caught the service from Barnfield was swift and he hit LITTLE who arrived at pace to break clear to score a superb try. Barnfield missed the difficult conversion. (45-14, 57 Mins).
The final try came on the 63rd minute when KEERS continued his fine early season form when he crossed for his 13th try of the season, once again Trimble who excelled at in the open spaces of fullback found a gap and beat the on-rushing defence, he was eventually closed down but cleverly chipped the ball infield for the supporting KEERS who dribbled the ball over the line to score. Barnfield converted. (47-14, 63 Mins).
The remainder of the game was played out in midfield, with Ashington pushing for further tries and good Rovers defence keeping them at bay.
Full time 47-14
Rovers : Fenwick, Glaister-Smith, Pinchen, Wilson, Little, Reed, Charters, Gunn©, Barnfield S. , Barnfield M., Harrison, Lithgo, Keers, Railton, Trimble
Subs: Harrington, Cairns, Vincent
MOM: Stephen Barnfield got Rovers on the front foot with clever scrum-half play.
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