Durham City 48 Hartlepool Rovers 14

After losing their way the last time out at home to Acklam, the Whites redeemed themselves with a battling display that saw them lose Callum Whitehead after his eighth minute sending off; only when the inevitable tiredness kicked in did City pull clear.

On top of the red card for Whitehead, Rovers blew several half chances with some knock-ons and Ryan Foreman had an off-day with the boot in missing three first half penalties.

They also suffered in conceding tries from City’s only two visits to Rovers’ half up to the break such had been Rovers’ territorial dominance. It was sadly predictable that flanker Chris Metcalfe, always a thorn in Rovers’ side over the years, was the scorer, one try from a handling move and the other from a run to the line from a lineout. Home kicker Josh White converted Metcalfe’s second try for a 12-0 lead.

Now playing into a strong wind, the Friaragemen took the game to City and were rewarded with a quick-fire brace from Billy Lloyd on 47 and 49 minutes.

The tighthead had carried well in open play and got on the end of a driving play to touchdown, Ryan Hodgson adding the extras to cut the deficit to 12-7.

Lloyd then got over the whitewash at the second attempt after good approach play by Jack Gunn and Dylan Langley and Hodgson was on target again with the conversion and Rovers had taken a deserved 14-12 lead.

Durham gambled by taking a scrum on the away 22 after 58 minutes instead of a routine penalty and, having backed themselves, the decision paid off when Craig Dominick went over in the clubhouse corner, White’s conversion putting City back in front 17-14.

The away defence was caught napping on 61 minutes with Charlie Scott having all the time and space to cut through to score, White’s conversion increasing the lead to 24-14.

After a spell of even play, City went further ahead after 71 minutes, White breaking through an increasingly tired defensive unit to cross. He badly missed the conversion but City now had a comfortable 29-14 lead.

Durham then hammered home their numerical advantage with tries on 74 and 76 minutes with Rovers conceding from each restart.

Tom Elliott jinked his way to the line although there seemed to be a genuine case for a penalty to Rovers for obstruction, and Dominick got his second try when the White Shirts failed to get their tackles in, White converting both tries.

Just before the end, a Rovers’ attack in the City 22 quickly became a score at their end when City’s Elliott stormed away to the line from inside his own half for a final score of 48-14.

The league campaign takes a break on Saturday with Rovers hosting Gateshead at the New Friarage in two weeks’ time.

Durham City: White, Bushnell, Dominick, Stevenson, Elliott, Scott, Newton, Parkinson, Hogg, Amir, Wilson, Cotton (sin bin 43), Metcalfe, Dias, Dent (c). Subs used: Jewitt, Johnson, Herbert

Rovers: M Railton, S Railton, Armstrong, Gunn, A Smith, Foreman, Pelser, N Stead, T Stead, Lloyd, Langley, D Smith, Dring, O’Callaghan, Whitehead (c)(sent off 8). Subs used: S Smith, Hodgson, Swallow

Referee: Fergus Hollins (Edinburgh)