Hartlepool Rovers 31 Gateshead 30

Rovers were 5-0 up after only three minutes when Liam Armstrong forced his way over after a strong run but Gateshead levelled on 10 minutes when Conner Anderson sped home to cross in the left hand clubhouse corner.

Hooker Tom Stead then went under the posts from a close-range tap-and-go and Chris Sainty put over the conversion for Rovers to lead 12-5.

The Tynesiders pulled five points back again after 27 minutes when Cameron Mather broke from his 10 metre line before kicking ahead and retaking the ball to go in at the right hand corner flag to cut the hosts’ lead to 12-10.

Rovers were controlling things well when they had the ball in hand and the pack set up Taz Pelser on the half hour with Sainty’s extras making the hosts’ lead 19-10.

Scott Cartner made inroads into the deficit after 38 minutes with a 24 metre penalty but Rovers finished the first half well when Armstrong crossed for his second try and an interval lead of 24-13.

Missed penalties by Sainty and Daz Fawcett cost Rovers six points with Gateshead making them pay by sending Anderson away from the home 22 to score in the Railway Corner, Cartner converting from the touchline for a 24-20 scorleine.

The Friaragemen scored their fifth try after 54 minutes when Callum Whitehead touched down under the posts, Fawcett’s conversion making the lead 31-20.

Some weak defence saw Rovers concede a soft try by Sam Hall and Cartner’s conversion and then a 15 metre penalty cut Rovers’ lead to a single point 31-30 but, importantly, it was a lead they managed to hold onto.

Rovers: Rochester, S Railton, Burnside, Armstrong, Maguire, Sainty, Pelser, I Flounders, T Stead, N Stead, D Smith, Lloyd, Jeffery, O’Callaghan, Dring (c). Subs: Whitehead, Fawcett, Little

Gateshead: Cartner, Mather, Tate, Heelbeck (c), Anderson, Riley, Hall, Thandi, Ewart, Moslemi, Wilczek, Omar, Race, Greenwell, Kennedy. Subs used: Rawlinson, O’Connell, Craig

Referee: Andrew Bennett (Durham Society)