Flounders' late try earns draw for Hartlepool Rovers

Lewis Humble then had a chance from the touchline to win the game for the Whites but his well-struck conversion, after initially looking to have been nailed, was kept out by the strong wind.

Flounders’ score rounded off an excellent performance by the loosehead prop after a lengthy spell out through injury and came after a tremendous spell of forward pressure by the home eight.

Things had looked good for Rovers when they led 10-5 at the break but, just as Stockton had struggled to get out of their 22 in the first half, the hosts did likewise.

For all the wind blew towards the railway end of the ground, both sides had tried to run out of defence rather than put boot to ball.

The result means that new head coach Jon Benson is still unbeaten with a win and a draw-and thus six points-from his first two matches in charge and which have lifted Rovers up to 10th in the Durham Northumberland One table and with a four points advantage over second-bottom Hartlepool.

Although Benson’s team selection was somewhat reduced in effect and impact by the quagmire of a pitch, there were, as well as Flounders’ return’ to boost the front row, equally important and impressive areas.

Liam Austwicke and James Evens, who has had a new lease of life over the last two weeks, as a centre partnership; Humble and Steven Barnfield forged a good understanding, and the returning Liam Wood energised the back row and scored to boot.

Rovers head to third placed -and promotion-chasing - Barnard Castle on Saturday and what might have been a damage-limitation exercise three weeks ago has now become a half-chance for the Friaragemen if they can maintain this level of play.

A couple of needless penalties for offside allowed Stockton to head into the 22 where Steve Bartliffe put a third-minute penalty wide.

Rovers’ first attacks through Evens, Chrissy Harrison and Andrew Dring and then Humble and Harrison followed but both saw the ball knocked on inside the away 22.

Having surprisingly declined two kickable penalties, Rovers’ confidence saw them go for the try and a solid scrum saw Dring and Dylan Langley make it to the line on 18 minutes where the pack didn’t panic and Wood touched down under a mound of bodies. Humble’s extra points made it 7-0.

Rovers switched off four minutes later when a quick lineout by sub Lew Gray saw skipper Mark Conway receive to run in to pull five points back.

Humble kept the scoreboard ticking over after 28 minutes with a 32-metre penalty despite tricky underfoot conditions to make the lead 10-5.

He then looked to have slotted a 27-metre kick a minute later but it struck the left upright and with no chasers Stockton were able to clear.

Although Rovers hit half time leading, there were aspects of their game management that, as at Ryton, were a bit perplexing.

With the wind and rain now at their backs, Stockton penned Rovers in their 22 just as they had suffered and so it was a surprise when Bartliffe went for goal from fully 41 metres on 49 minutes but he pulled his kick to the left.

A forward pass by Dan Phinn halted a promising move after 51 minutes but it wasn’t costly and two minutes later the lead had switched to the visitors.

A spell of pick and go in midfield saw Rovers turned over and sub Brian Thwaites broke and put Jonny Horner in from the 22, Bartliffe’s conversion making it 12-10.

A couple of controversial decisions by referee Paul Candlish cost Rovers territory and possession and a 32-metre Bartliffe three-pointer on 64 minutes looked to have given Stockton a potentially match-winning 15-10 lead.

With two minutes on the clock, the White Shirts won a penalty in front of the Oakes Stand and the forwards pushed their opponents back into their 22 where bursts by Barnfield, Flounders and Ian Pinchen took the pack to the line where Flounders crossed.

“The first 10 minutes saw us break their tackles, and use the channels well to be creative despite the state of the pitch,” said Benson afterwards.

“I was happy to be 10-5 up at half time but we then conceded penalties to give them field position.

“We didn’t kick on as well as we should have done in the second half, fell asleep for a while, and let them back into it.

“The defence was good, we made our tackles and had the nerve at the end to have a go and get that try.”

Rovers: Rochester, Harrison, Austwicke, Evens, A Smith, Humble, S Barnfield, A Flounders, Maguire, Pinchen (c), Langley, Ryan, O’Callaghan, Wood, Dring. Subs used: Lane, Pelser, Lloyd

Tries: Wood 18; Flounders 80+1; conversion: Humble 18; penalty: Humble 28

Penalties awarded 13, kicked 1, missed 1; scrums won 9; lineouts won 8

Stockton: Phinn, Hargreaves, Horner, Tampin, Bartliffe, Cowley, Crowe, Nelson, Conway (c), Austen, Cheetham, Skirving, Healey, Doherty, Douglas. Subs used: Gray, Highfield, Thwaites. Tries: Conway 22; Horner 53; conversions: Bartliffe 53; penalty: Bartliffe 64

Referee: Paul Candlish (Durham)

Other results: Consett P Gosforth P; Hartlepool 0 South Shields Westoe 14; Horden and Peterlee 53 Ryton 0; Medicals 12 Gateshead 13; Middlesbrough 5 Barnard Castle 17; Northern 44 Novocastrians 0