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Stockton 23 Hartlepool Rovers 14

Stockton 23 Hartlepool Rovers 14

Ian Kelly18 Oct 2014 - 23:19
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Hartlepool Rovers went down 23-14 to Stockton at Station Road on Saturday to drop to 7th in the table.

Rovers have to find a way to stop their generosity to opposition teams if they are to mount a serious challenge at the top of Durham Northumberland One. At the moment, the Whites are giving the other team an average of ten or so points a game as shown recently against Novocastrians and Ryton and against Stockton, two of the hosts’ three tries could have been prevented.

Rovers also have to be more clinical in their finishing with better ball protection and some calmness when within touching distance of the tryline.

Saturday’s match was down as a target win and for all Stockton played well, they were certainly beatable and this was a chance for four or five points lost.

Rovers took a 13th minute lead when Ian Coulson’s strength saw the captain power his way through to the line after a Danny Baxter attacking lineout catch and pack drive, Michael Barnfield converting.

Seven minutes later the lead was doubled to 14-0 when a Steven Barnfield tap penalty was finished off by Jack Gunn, Michael Barnfield again converting.

Stockton pulled a try back on 28 minutes when left wing Dan Phinn crossed in the left hand corner.

With 20 plus points being par for the advantage of the slope and wind, Rovers were 11 points adrift and Stockton pulled back to within two points when Andy Bailes stormed over two minutes after the break, Jeremy Good kicking the conversion.

The stand-off then kicked penalties on 53 and 63 minutes to give Stockton the lead 18-14.

The next score was going to be vital and the Friaragemen failed to find touch with Rob Graham just squeezing in at the left corner flag.
Stockton kept pushing Rovers back to use up valuable time on the clock and when Rovers declined a kickable penalty that would have brought them the consolation of a losing bonus point it summed up their afternoon.

The White Shirts have a chance to bounce back when they entertain Sunderland at the New Friarage next Saturday.

Stockton: Crozier, Graham, Brown, Slaughter, Phinn, Good, Horner, Conway, Muirhead, Bailes, Taylor (c), Cheetham, Dixon, Doherty, Aldus. Subs used: Healey, Tampin, Nelson

Rovers: Austwicke, Grand, Gunn, Coulson (c), Smith, M Barnfield, S Barnfield, A Flounders, J Cushlow, Tucker, Baxter (sin bin 53), Langley, Church, Maddison, Foster. Subs used: Wilson, Wise, Fawcett

Referee: Mike Hill (Potomac Society)

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