Such a result seemed highly unlikely half an hour before KO when we didn't have a full team and even though players gradually arrived our warm up was understandably poor. From the start though we seemed to click and after 10 minutes could have been further ahead than the single try in the corner that Ryan Hodgson scored. His conversion was narrowly wide. We then gifted Acklam a try that drew them level at 5-5 when we failed to deal with a kick over our try line. We went back up the field and from a lineout 15 metres out we drove through the forwards and Adam Jobling marked his return to rugby by being last up with the ball for an unconverted try. 10-5. Our lead didn't last long as some poor tackling allowed Acklam to score twice and with one conversion that put Acklam 10-17 ahead. After the last try though we immediately reduced the arrears to 15-17. Dash Hogg chased and won the kick off, Joe Little and Danny Charters took the ball on and passed to Ste Railton who went over out wide.

HT Rovers Heughers 15 - 17 Acklam Talbots

We retook the lead when quick hands got the ball out to Ryan Hodgson who went over in the corner for a 20-17 score. We then gifted Acklam a second score as Acklam put us under pressure at a scrum under our posts and the ball bobbled up for the Acklam flanker to score. Remarkably the conversion was missed but Acklam now led 20-22. Joe Little nearly scored but knocked on and other attempts went close but without us finishing the moves. We were also starting to panic a bit. Having never kicked anything all game we were grateful that The Pace had took to the field and he nailed a penalty to put us 23-22 up. Acklam too had been usually unsuccessful with their kicking for goal but when we were offside their kicker put over the penalty to edge them ahead yet again at 23-25. We kept the pressure on though and Dash Hogg seized on a loose tap from a lineout on the Acklam line. With The Pace's touchline conversion we were now 30-25 in front. And we didn't lose that lead by sensibly keeping the ball in the Acklam 22 and a further penalty on full time from The Pace ended the scoring at 33-25 to deny Acklam a, probably deserved, bonus point.

Rovers Heughers 33 - 25 Acklam Talbots

Well it was certainly not a dull time with 9 tries between the teams, the lead changing hands 9 times and us ultimately getting 9 points from the game. . On Saturday morning Acklam Talbots were top of the table followed by Consett 2nds then ourselves; though we have a game in hand on both teams, and while we might not have moved up the league we will have narrowed the gap.

It could have been so much better though. We ran the ball a lot but were frequently too lateral. We were also guilty of choosing wrong options and panicking unnecessarily. Still if we can play at below our best and with a much changed side yet still take maximum points from the league leaders it obviously bodes well if we can improve even a little. There were some really positive points as well. Firstly many thanks to Rovers like Pinky and Muller who turned out less than fully fit to give us a choice of options. Well done to Jobber and Tristan Van Nierkerk on their first games of the season and also to our, ahem, venerable standoffs in Paul Arnell and Ian Wallace who controlled the game well. Ryan Hodgson continues to improve and could have had more than 2 tries with quicker service. We had an excellent back row who complemented each with Danny's power, Joe's all round game perhaps just being shaded by Dash Hogg who would be my man of the match. Dash was excellent at restarts, lineouts and was all over the pitch. Well done Dash. Pity you dropped the ball once with the line at your mercy but it is what it is.

Squad

Harrison, Hewitt, Hodgson, S Railton, Buttery, Muller, Wright, Arnell, Wallace, Pinky, R Clayton, Lidster, Ross, L Saunders, S Saunders (c), Healey, Jobling, Van Nierkerk, Hogg, Little, Charters

Pictures of the game are here courtesy of Daren Mulvihill - here

Next week we are away at Durham City followed by a planned soiree back at Rovers.