ROVERS RECORD ROUT OF THE WASPS!
ROVERS 92 WASPS 2
TEAM - SPONSOR
1 SIMON JACKSON - YORKDHIRE GEARS
2 JAMIE STOKES - DRANSFIELD NEWSAGENT
3 GAVIN SWINSON - JOHN AND JACKIE MURRAY
4 CHRIS SPURR - HEADLAND ELECTRIC
5 MATT BRAMALD - CRYSTAL DRINKS
6 ANDY BASTOW - XCTRA EXCL. LADIES FASHIONS
7 JAMIE ROONEY - COST CUTTERS SUPERMARKET
8 STUART DICKENS - DRANSFIELD NEWSAGENTS
9 RICHARD CHAPMAN - RJB MINING
10 GARY LORD - LIONHEART
11 STEVE DOOLER - HEADLAND ELECTRIC
12 NEIL LOWE - JOHN AND JACKIE MURRAY
13 PAUL DARLEY - BIFFA WASTE
14 GAVIN MORGAN - ACE PRECISION ENGINEERING
15 LEE WILLIAMSON - ACE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
16 CRAIG BOOTH - ROVERS LIFELINE 2000
17 DANNY EVANS - BIFFA WASTE
ATTENDANCE - 1347
WEATHER CONDITIONS - FINE AND SUNNY
HALF TIME - ROVERS 52 YORK 2
FULL TIME - ROVERS 92 YORK 2
REFEREE RONNIE LAUGHTON PENALTY COUNT 9-8
Rovers stormed to their 11th win in 13 games with a fantasic club record victory at the Lionheart Stadium against the York Wasps. They ran in 17 tries as they beat their previous highest score of 86-18 which was against Keighley in 1989.
Rovers started the game with Mike Rhodes on the injury list and replaced by Simon Jackson. Craig Booth returned but Ricky Helliwell was out with a shoulder injury. Rovers started off playing down the slope.
The Wasps, who have conceded 276 points in their last four games, crashed to a 17th consecutive league defeat after being 52-2 down at half-time. However, after failing to score in their previous two games, the Wasps had the minor consolation of getting onto the scoreboard with a 16th-minute penalty by scrum-half Gareth Oulton. But the remainder of the game was dominated by Rovers who ripped York’s paper thin defence to shreds in a very professional win. Speedy winger Jamie Stokes led the try spree with a hat-trick On 24, 46 and 58 minutes and scrum-half Jamie Rooney piled on the misery for outclassed York by landing 12 goals
. However, Jamie Rooney, who saw two goal attempts hit the post, fell just one short of equalling the club record for goals in a match set by Mark Knapper against Keighley 12 years ago in 1989.Jamie Rooney’s half-back partner Andy Bastow put Rovers on their way by creating tries for Simon Jackson on 3 minutes and Danny Evans on 7 minutes before going over himself from Richard Chapman’s pass on 10 minutes.
Centre Gavin Swinson went over twice within three minutes after good work by 'non-stop' Paul Darley, and 'blockbusting' Neil Lowe and Gary Lord. These tries were scored on 17 and 20 minutes respectively.
The Wasps had a let-off when Jamie Stokes dropped the ball over the line but the winger quickly made amends when Andy Bastow sent him sprinting in for his first.
Richard Chapman dummied his way over from close range on 28 minutes in typical style before Gavin Morgan got a fortunate try after hacking the ball on on 32 minutes.
Full-back Simon Jackson brought up the half century by racing 65 yards for his second try shortly after Wasp's Carl Bristow was sin-binned in the 36th minute for holding down at the play the ball.
This one-way traffic continued throughout the second half. Centre Chris Spurr went in twice on 42 and 65 minutes and Jamie Stokes got two more tries to complete his treble. Danny
Evans grabbed his second try on 73 minutes and Neil Lowe and Matt Bramald also went in to finish off the rout on 51 minutes and 76 minutes respectively.Rovers men of the match were Neil Lowe and Andy Bastow.
ROVERS BATTLE TO VICTORY!
HAWKS 8 ROVERS 24
TEAM - SPONSOR
1 MICHEAL RHODES- YORKDHIRE GEARS
2 JAMIE STOKES - DRANSFIELD NEWSAGENT
3 SIMON JACKSON - JOHN AND JACKIE MURRAY
4 CHRIS SPURR - HEADLAND ELECTRIC
5 MATT BRAMALD - CRYSTAL DRINKS
6 ANDY BASTOW - XCTRA EXCL. LADIES FASHIONS
7 JAMIE ROONEY - COST CUTTERS SUPERMARKET
8 STUART DICKENS - DRANSFIELD NEWSAGENTS
9 RICHARD CHAPMAN - RJB MINING
10 GARY LORD - LIONHEART
11 STEVE DOOLER - HEADLAND ELECTRIC
12 RICKY HELLIWELL - JOHN AND JACKIE MURRAY
13 PAUL DARLEY - BIFFA WASTE
14 GAVIN MORGAN - ACE PRECISION ENGINEERING
15 NEIL LOWE - ACE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
16 GAVIN SWINSON - ROVERS LIFELINE 2000
17 DANNY EVANS - BIFFA WASTE
ATTENDANCE - 909
WEATHER CONDITIONS - FINE AND SUNNY
HALF TIME - HAWKS 8 ROVERS 0
FULL TIME - HAWKS 8 ROVERS 24
REFEREE GRAEME SHAW PENALTY COUNT 5-10
Rovers moved a step closer to securing home advantage in the Grand Final playoffs. However, they were made to fight all the way for victory by a Hunslet Hawks side who seem to be recovering to a certain extent from the problems of the early season. Rovers were without Craig Booth who has an injured sternum. Stu Dickens moved to number 8 and Gavin Swinson returned after a knee injury.
Rovers ran in four second-half tries without reply to overturn an eight-point deficit carried forward from the first half and therefore remain in the top four of the Northern Ford Premiership.
Full-back Michael Rhodes touched down twice in the second half on 65 and 74 minutes with further blockbusting tries coming from Gavin Morgan on 50 minutes and Andy Bastow on 54 minutes as Rovers assumed total control. However, the Hawks performance suggests that they have, perhaps, urned the corner after a season of struggle. This will raise hopes for them of a much better 2002 season.
Hawks were in better form than Rovers in the opening 40 minutes with a display packed full of defensive determination and enterprising attacking play which created problems for Rovers. However, many of Rovers problems came from an extremely narrow pitch. The Hawks had narrowed their pitch according to many of the fans in the know to cut down the points scored by the opposition!!!
Hawks Michael Wainwright scored the only try of the first half when he crossed in the 37th minute from a crash ball to give the them an eight-point lead which they fully deserved.
Iain Higgins was again in good form in the centres for the Hawks. Also Craig Robinson’s intelligent kicking kept the Rovers penned back for long periods. Again it has to be said it took Rovers some considerable time to adjust to the very narrow pitch.
However, Peter Roe’s men were much improved after the break after an 'ear-bending' from him. Once Gavin Morgan, who is having an excellent season at the Rovers, had opened their account in the 51st minute the Rovers always looked the more likely side to win.
Rovers went ahead for the first time four minutes later when Andy Bastow (also in great form) touched down and then Mike Rhodes confirmed the Rovers superiority with two well-taken efforts
in the final 20 minutes. With Jamie Rooney completing the scoring with 4 goals Rovers were deserved winners at 24-8.Rovers man of the match was Neil Lowe. At times he was almost unstoppable!!