Hartlepool Rovers end seven-game losing run by beating Ponteland

After seven successive defeats, the Whites dug deep to secure a try-scoring bonus-point victory that saw them climb a place to eighth in the Durham Northumberland One table to be a place, and a single point, behind this Saturday’s opponents Guisborough.

It is going to take more than one win to arrest Rovers’ slide down the league of late but it’s a start and only time will tell if they can win enough games to maybe climb to fifth or sixth although that might also take other results to go their way.

Rovers had to work hard for the win; the first half an hour was scoreless and the bonus point try didn’t come until the 72nd minute.

All four tries came from different players to emphasise that this was a team performance which, given the run of bad results, was important and needs to be built upon.

The discipline from penalty counts and sin bin perspectives needs some attention.

The previous week against high-flying Barnard Castle had seen Rovers concede just a handful of penalties which became a monster 18 against bottom-of-the-table Ponteland and there were, once again, two yellow cards.

These weren’t costly on Saturday but Rovers could be punished against better opposition if they can’t rein in their ill-discipline.

The first 30 minutes were almost all Rovers who couldn’t convert several half chances, with the visitors only making the Rovers’ 22 on one occasion.

An attacking lineout on 31 minutes saw Joe Little and Callum Whitehead break and, when Matty Stephenson was stopped on the line, Ian Pinchen picked the ball up to score, Daz Fawcett’s conversion making the lead 7-0.

Had Ponteland passed the ball instead of often going for glory alone, they might well have scored one or two tries of their own.

Little and Whitehead then disrupted play in midfield as both teams tried to get some late first half points and a crunching tackle by Dylan Langley ended with a 24 metre penalty that Fawcett put over for an interval lead of 10-0.

The Friaragemen had enjoyed plentiful ball and territory before the break and they were straight back on the attack at the start of the second half.

Little, who was in outstanding form, broke clear again after 44 minutes and ran towards the away line from the 22.

He was caught by full-back Luke Chick but had Taz Pelser in support to steal in from eight metres out.

Fawcett was on target with the extra points and the lead had increased to 17-0.

Two needless yellow cards for Mark Burnside and Steven Barnfield could prove costly another day but Rovers’ defensive work was excellent either side of a badly missed penalty by John McConnell on 51 minutes.

Ponteland went for touch after 59 minutes only to find the covering Matty Stephenson. The scrum half failed to cleanly catch the ball and from the resulting scrum the away pack drove the Rovers’ eight some 15 metres to the line.

Number eight Sam Long surprisingly didn’t touch the ball down over the try line but popped it up for Paddy Holliday to score, sub Jack Lockhart converting to make the score 17-7.

Rovers hit straight back and several penalty advantages saw them reach deep inside the Ponteland 22 and Whitehead and Jack Gunn go close.

A five-metre penalty after 64 minutes saw Little receive and power his way over the line with Chrissy Harrison’s well-judged conversion from five metres in from the touchline being bang on target for a 24-7 lead.

A high tackle on James Evens on 71 minutes as he ran for the line brought a yellow card for Paul Baron and Rovers opted for a scrum on the five metre line.

Little was nearly over for his second try before some slick handling found Evens who put in a neat pass to Adam Smith who had, maybe, only two metres of wing to play with but managed to make the line for a lead and final score of 29-7.

Director of Rugby Mick Ainslie was pleased to get back to winning ways, saying: “The first half was a bit quiet on the scoring front but the second half was much better.

“The penalty count was far too high. Our discipline last week had been very good and we can’t afford to do the same next week.

“Joe Little was man of the match for me and could easily, and deserved to, have had one or two more tries.

“We kept the momentum going and got a much-needed win but need to up it again a notch or two next week against Guisborough who are a very good side.”

Rovers: Pelser, S Railton, S Barnfield, Gunn, A Smith, Fawcett, Stephenson, Pinchen, Ross, Lloyd, Langley, Little, Burnside, Church, Whitehead (c). Subs used: Evens, C Harrison, Cotson

Tries: Pinchen 31; Pelser 44; Little 64; A Smith 72; conversions: Fawcett 31, 44; Harrison 64; penalty: Fawcett 40+4

Penalties awarded 10, kicked 1, missed 0; scrums awarded 8; lineouts won 8, 2 stolen

Ponteland: Chick, Bailes, Probert, Taylor, Bulteel, McConnell, Holliday, Brown, Baron, Lane, Livingstone-Evans (c), Freer, Clark, Stewart, Long. Subs used: Lawson, Lockhart, Steven

Try: Holliday 59; conversion: Lockhart 59

Penalties awarded 18, kicked 0, missed 1; scrums won 7; lineouts won 16, 2 stolen

Referee: Colin Davison (Durham)

Sent off: none; sin bin: Burnside 48, Barnfield 57, Baron 71

Other results: Consett 62 Medicals 7; Durham City 52 Redcar 0; Horden and Peterlee 36 Gosforth 0; Stockton 35 Guisborough 0