With an already much changed side there was a further late alteration when Craig Vincent had to go scrum half and captain Steven Barnfield moved to centre. Tyler Dean was on unexpected leave from the RAF and brought our numbers up to the full complement.

The gale force wind was blowing straight down Rockcliff's 4g pitch and Rovers had first use of it. Both defences were prominent initially while both sides got the measure of each other. A pattern was emerging with Rockcliff having to run everything into the wind while Rovers had the upper hand in the forwards, especially the scrum, and used this dominance to gain field position. They did so despite being a man down for 20 minutes of the half as two players received yellows. Firstly Andrew Dring went on the naughty step after 10 minutes for handling in a ruck and then on 26 minutes a Dylan Langley clear out at a ruck was considered too enthusiastic by the referee and Dylan had an enforced rest. The Rockcliff hooker also got a yellow for offering the ref some unwanted advice 5 minutes before half time. A slimline Evo had missed a difficult penalty earlier in the game and with half time approaching it looked there would be no score. James Keers thought differently though when he scorched over out wide on 38 minutes for an un-converted try after a 25 metre run.

HT Whitley Bay Rockcliff 0 - 5 Hartlepool

Would that slender lead be enough playing into a very strong wind? Well after 3 minutes of the second half we managed to do what Rockcliff hadn't and scored into the wind. After some powerful forward drives the ball was moved to Curtis Ross and the winger stood up his opposite number before going over in the corner. A conversion was an impossibility into the wind but we did lead 0-10 now. However we began to suffer an increasing number of injuries with Chris Hopkinson, Ian Flounders and Dylan Langley forced to withdraw with some juggling of resources needed. On 66 minutes Rockcliff put over a penalty and with 10 minutes left on the clock reduced the arrears to 8-10 with an un-converted try out wide. And what a nervous 10 minutes it was. Rockcliffe spurned a penalty from about the same position that they had previously kicked one and the tension was not being helped by the ref adding on 6 minutes of extra time. But excellent defence and teamwork enabled to hold out for a close but exciting win.

FT Whitley Bay Rockcliff 8 - 10 Hartlepool Rovers

Thanks to Rockcliff for being stern opponents and hospitable hosts. This was a tense game that could have gone either way. That Rovers won it was down to teamwork, playing for each other and a dogged refusal to give up. Well done lads.

A special mention goes to 17 year old Corey Railton on his first team debut. Corey played the majority of the game and didn't let himself or anyone down. Also well done to Craig Vincent who switched to scrum half and gave a busy and committed performance. Craig formed an effective half back partnership with the returning and now slender, even willowy, James Evens. The pack were immense as a unit repeating driving Rockcliff back in the scrum; even when down to 7 men. For his efforts in defence and attack number 8 Andrew Dring deservedly got the man of the match award. Well done Dringy.

Squad

1. Ian Flounders
2. Matthew Saunders
3. Ian Pinchen
4. Matthew Wilson
5. D Langley
6. Joe Little
7. Liam D Wood
8. Andrew Dring
9 Craig Vincent
10. James Evens
11 Corey Railton
12 Chris Hopkinson
13. Steven Barnfield (c)
14. Curtis Ross
15. James Keers

16. Tyler Dean
17. Ryan Harrison
18. Billy Lloyd

Next week the first team are at home in a rearranged game to Aspatria.