Rovers Heughers 28 - 27 West Stags

This report is as gleaned from several sources and apologies for not being as detailed as normal. Any spelling mistakes are Mick Hanley's fault.

Following a good victory in an entertaining game on the Friarage the Heughers continued their good start to the season and are also top of an unofficial Hartlepool subset of the Candy League having beaten West and Old Boys over consecutive weeks.

Rovers welcomed back a number of players for their first runs out of the season which included the elusive Tony Ross, fan's favourite Kirto, Rugby Ryan Hodgson, recent dad Tucker, that quiet chap Davy Carroll and the evergreen Wally. It was also good to hear that Monty was able to turn out again after a difficult few months for his family.

An early injury to Chris Sainty meant that Wally took to the field and formed a young at heart half back partnership with Pinky. All that guile in one place eh? West first of all took the lead but Rovers gradually exerted control. At half time maestro Mick Hanley rang the changes and reshuffled the side to give everyone game time. Rovers pushed ahead to 28-12 and were looking quite comfortable with time almost up before a couple of very late tries for West made the scoreline look a lot closer.

Rovers try scorers were Kirto, Carrots, Bean Head and Ryan Hodgson. With a perfect record of 4 out 4 conversions prop Billy Lloyd will no doubt claim his kicking made all the difference. However Mick's man of the match and winner of sponsors Vue Cinema prize is the venerable Ian Wallace. Well done Wally.

Squad

I Flounders, Monaghan, Lloyd, Groom, Healey, Kirton (c), O'Callaghan Lane, Graves, Sainty, Swallow, Mulller, Olley, Hodgson, S Railton,

Interchanges Wallace, Ross, Tucker, Montgomery, Carroll

Next week the Heughers are away to unbeaten Stockton Saracens and will be looking for some younger blood to replace the half a dozen elderly gentlemen above who are down to play West Vets the same day.