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All of the talk before the game was about just how many points the Billingham back line would run in against the Rovers. In the end, the men in green and white scored on their first attack, extended their lead in first half added time and then sat back and absorbed the Whites’ pressure after the interval.
In, initially, good conditions both teams sought to run the ball and Rovers were out of the blocks early doors when Steve Wallis burst clear and play was taken on by Andrew Lilley and Brian Foreman but the ball was lost in the Billingham 22. This was the cue for the Teessiders to sweep upfield, Craig Shepherd and Michael Evans interpassing to round both Gareth Foreman and Chris Sainty for the left wing to touch down, Peter Evans converting.
Billingham’s intention to run the ball was clear from the restart kick when they ran from inside their 22, Craig Shepherd and brother Paul this time attacking the Catcote Road wing, Mark Shires having to pull off a try saving tackle.
The Friaragemen then laid siege to the Billingham line, referee Derek Blake awarding a sequence on penalties and a yellow card for Anthony Amos although a penalty try may have been close when Gareth Foreman was halted from a tap penalty. Rovers declined to kick any of the penalties and eventually a turnover allowed Billingham to clear.
A strike against the head on halfway sent Simon Rutherford away but a knock on halted the move and another spell of pressure in the right hand clubhouse corner saw the White Shirts come away empty handed.
Chris Sainty put three points on the board with a penalty on the half hour but Billingham ended the half on the attack and a slick passing move ended with Chris Hyndman putting Craig Shepherd in for a try, Peter Evans again converting.
The onset of rain after half time reduced the game into more of a slugfest and the number of genuine breaks by the threequarters were few and far between.
Rovers attempted to get back into the game with a battering ram approach but Billingham absorbed all that was thrown at them and used kicks and the occasional break to peg Rovers back into their own half. Despite several attacks around the five metre line, Rovers couldn’t breach the Billingham defence and it was Billingham who had the clearest chance only to lose the ball over the Rovers’ line.
Rovers: Shires (Rose 49), Lilley, B Foreman, Rutherford, Sainty, P Hall, G Foreman (c) (A Arnell 69), Tucker, J Cushlow (I Pinchen 53), Wise (Bingham 41), D Smith, Wallis, Kirton (Howe 27), Taylor, Grazier (A Pinchen 55). Sub (not used) Craig
Billingham: C Shepherd, P Shepherd, J Evans, C Hyndman, M Evans, P Evans (A Hyndman 64), Woodhouse, Danny Robinson, Amos (sin bin 11), Youdale, Dalton (Tennent 64), Wildredge, Hutchinson (sin bin 22), Dave Robinson (c), Dixon (Wray 80). Subs (not used): Liddle, Garbutt, Sayers, Keenan
Referee: Derek Blake (Durham Society)
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Author: mugsyw
Date: 01-05-08 08:31
Hard luck lads - thanks for your reports and previews R & O - much appreciated
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