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Hartlepool Rovers 34 Novocastrians 31

Hartlepool Rovers 34 Novocastrians 31

Ian Kelly28 Apr 2019 - 09:12
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Hartlepool Rovers concluded their season with a 34-31 victory at the New Friarage over Novocastrians.

Matches between the clubs are traditionally high-scoring encounters and this one was no different, the Whites only leading once but which, crucially, was after Alex Rochester’s 79th minute and game-clinching try.

Despite the win, Rovers stay and finish the Durham and Northumberland One campaign in seventh, one place lower than their defeated visitors.

The hosts found themselves trailing 14-0 after only 11 minutes when Sean Ramsay broke away from a scrum on the Rovers 22 and then a passage of driving plays saw Alex Cleminson just make it to the line, Nick Bellamy adding both conversions.

Rovers pulled seven points back on 22 minutes with Tom Stead scoring after good breaks by Dylan Langley and Danny Charters, Daz Fawcett converting.

Those points were immediately returned to Novos with a poor defending of the restart kick allowing Luke Menzfield to bustle and barge his way to, and over, the line, Bellamy’s extra points making the score 21-7.

The Friaragemen headed straight back upfield and Taz Pelser kicked through for full back Michael Railton to pick up and cross, Fawcett kicking an excellent touchline conversion to cut the deficit to 21-14.

Rovers then enjoyed some further pressure and went in at the break trailing only 21-19 after a stoppage time try by captain for the day Jack Gunn who scored by the posts after Tom and Neil Stead had been held up. In what might have proved crucial, Fawcett’s routine conversion struck the right upright.

Ben Wollerton increased Novo’s lead when he took advantage of a poor defence by Rovers of the second half’s kick off, Bellamy converting and Lewis Chater and Fawcett then traded penalties to leave the Tynesiders 31-22 up after 49 minutes.

Rovers pulled it back to 31-29 on 62 minutes when Pelser sneaked over the line after some forward pressure, Fawcett converting and then the vital score after 79 minutes when Rochester finished in style by diving over in the Steetley Corner to take a 34-31 win.

Rovers: M Railton, Rochester, Pelser, Gunn (c), A Smith, Fawcett, Bird, I Flounders (sin bin 38), T Stead, N Stead, Rayner, Langley (sin bin 46), Little, Jeffery, Charters. Subs used: Stephenson, M Saunders, Armstrong

Novocastrians: Bellamy, Spencer, Wollerton, Humphreyson (sin bin 60), Leckie, Chater, Davidson, Stacey, Shuttleworth, Menzfield, McDonald, Sorenson, Kelly, Cleminson, Ramsay (c). Subs used: Waterhouse, Hall, Thomas

Referee: Tony Rutherford (Durham)

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