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The visitors from North One were heavily reliant on their back row and the two Richardsons, Lee and Sean, and although having dominance up front failed to use their plentiful ball with the White Shirts’ defence in good form.
After last week’s 57 pointer against Hartlepool, the home fans were hoping for more of the same but the quality of possession and often a lack of support for the ball carrier plus a higher ranked opposition prevented this. Michael Taylor on his seasonal debut stood out for Rovers along with Michael Tucker, Gareth Foreman, Andrew Foreman and Andrew Lilley.
There were four yellow cards in a game that occasionally boiled over and with three being for Rovers, this, also, curbed their attacking instincts.
Darlington took an early lead when centre Andrew Pugh took advantage of a gap to cross and the visitors had started in such a fashion that it seemed a case of how many points they would score.
Rovers then had a couple of chances when Brian Foreman and brother Gareth put in some good runs but the visitors’ defence held out and when Darlington too had a breakaway chance, Alex Lineton knocked on after Chris Oakley had broken clear.
Only five points down at the break, the Friaragemen fell further behind on 52 minutes when a forward drive by the away eight saw Jeff Watt break and put James Knox in for a try with Lineton converting excellently from the West View Road touchline.
Mark Power then touched down but Mr Sutherland had spotted a forward pass. Play resumed, however, with a penalty to Rovers and some crisp passing after Power’s line out catch saw Michael Barnfield dive over, Chris Sainty adding the extra points.
Clear cut chances were then at a premium for both sides and, penned in their own 22, the Whites had no option but to try and keep play alive but Darlington robbed the ball and the last move of the game brought a deserved try for Lee Richardson.
Rovers open their Durham Northumberland One season this Saturday when they host Sunderland.
Rovers: B Foreman, B Cushlow (Sainty 29), P Hall, Lilley (sin bin 40), M Barnfield, G Foreman, A Foreman (sin bin 75), Tucker, J Cushlow, Wise (Langston 62), Power (c) (sin bin 10), D Smith, S Palmer (Cook 29), Wallis (Howe 50), M Taylor
Darlington: Lineton, Salashouri, L Richardson (c), Pugh, Bivens, Tomlin (Murphy 41), S Richardson, Tunstead (Watson 34), Goddard, J Oselton, Oakley, Hinchley, Watt (sin bin 40), S Taylor, Knox
Referee: Ray Sutherland (Durham Society)
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Author: mugsyw
Date: 08-09-08 16:02
Thanks for the report R&O, much appreciated when I can't get to the game. Good luck to the team for this coming Saturday
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Author: Casual Supporter
Date: 08-09-08 23:29
I don't profess to be any kind of expert but Rovers look to have it just about right this season.
A bit of luck and perhaps a bit of help from refs to stop teams killing the ball and our backs will run riot. Our forwards need to help the refs in this respect by making sure they get past the ball at rucks.
The I'm a little disappointed that more of the 2nd string lads who came on at Old Boys didn't get another chance, especially with the 2nd team game cancelled. Only got to see 15/20 minutes of them last week and some of them looked quite sparky when they came on.
Ian Pinchen carried the ball well and looks good competition for prop, Jimmy Campbell looked fitter than he has done for a few seasons and put a few hits in, Phil Jukes has also looked good and will hopefully push Power and Smith for there places but none of these lads got another look at the weekend. In the back row we appear spoilt for choice with Taylor, Palmer, Howe and Wallis all looking good. Grazier has also looked well but again didn't get a run on Saturday.
The Foremans are obvious first choices at half back and I'm pleasantly surprised at how good Lilley has been in the centre. Although who should partner him is not clear to me just yet. Would perhaps like to see Rutherford have just one more season to bring Lilley on a bit or perhaps have Kirton there as an option.
I've long been a fan of Ben Cushlow and it's nice to see him back and I think Barnfield and Sainty show great promise for this season too.
What strikes me most as opposed to last season is the depth we have. I've been able to mentally list a whole 2nd fifteen capable of competing in this league as well as those seemingly in the first choice squad. If I tried hard I could probably name a few more players capable of stepping in too.
Good luck for Saturday lads - keep this level of effort up and the league will be yours!
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