The Whites left it late, however, a try by Dean Townend and Daz Fawcett’s conversion bringing the win and the final whistle from referee and former Rover Phil Jukes.

Early Rovers’ pressure failed to bring any points before James Coxon squeezed in at the right hand corner flag after 19 minutes.

Rovers then allowed Hartlepool to go all the way from half way to the line courtesy of four penalties and Andrew Foreman sneaked over and the next score also went to the hosts when Andrew Small bustled over the line. Dave Chester converted and the centre then crossed after a spell of ping-pong and he added the extras to his try for a 19-5 lead.

A rampaging run by Jamie Montgomery reduced Hartlepool’s lead to 19-10 with 60 minutes of the 90 played.

The visitors enjoyed the ideal start to the third period with Patrick O’Callaghan going under the posts, Fawcett’s routine conversion making it 19-17.

This good work was undone when Rovers leaked a second try for Small on 70 minutes, however, Danny Cookland stormed over the line six minutes later and it was 24-22.

The White Shirts were now enjoying more possession and some aggressive running set up Dylan Langley after 80 minutes and Fawcett’s excellent conversion from the left touchline put his side ahead again 29-24.

The Friaragemen, having defended so well in the first 30 minutes were proving vulnerable to Pool’s forward running and Tom Stead dived over the line in some style on 86 minutes to tie the scores 29 all.

Had it ended all-square no-one would have minded but Rovers finished strongly and Townend who had predicted he would score the winning try duly kept his word and his body strength brought his five points which were augmented by Fawcett’s conversion for the 36-29 win.