All we had to show for our pressure was three points and as their confidence grew ours diminished and they eventually sneaked home at the death.
Morpeth then went on to beat Horden but are still in trouble with just four points to their name. It's a mystifying turn round from last season, when they were arguably the best rugby playing side in the league, and now the excuse that their farmers are late getting the harvest in is wearing a bit thin.
We have also run out of excuses for indifferent form. All of our missing players are back and now have a few games under their belt. Chocky Davies was looking sharper against Rovers, Allan Milne is now getting match fit, while Paul Rudd is showing the extra fitness that serving with the Fire Brigade can bring.
We'll need to show the boxing day commitment this week. Morpeth may be at the foot of the league but in their last home game they could have beaten Driffield who had hammered us the previous week. Leading 20-5 at half time they allowed Driffield to come back to 20-24. Morpeth thought they had it won with a last ditch try only for it be judged to have been "held up."
The Stags travlled up to Morpeth with a very depleted side and were duly hammered. This week they should have the benefit of lads wanting a place against Heughers in the County Cup.