SHOW OF STRENGTH AS COLLIERS TURN SCREW
HORDEN AND PETERLEE BAG FOUR TRIES TO OUTGUN OLD RIVALS HARTLEPOOL ROVERS
Horden and Peterlee emerged 26-0 winners against old rivals Hartlepool Rovers in Saturday’s Durham/Northumberland Division One clash in freezing conditions at Eden Park.
Match official Will Halford ruled that the pitch was unfit, but the two captains, Paul Armstrong and Callum Whitehead, agreed to play and, luckily, the turf didn’t freeze as the match progressed.
It ultimately proved to be the right decision: there were no serious injuries and it provided a full-on and entertaining derby encounter for the spectators.
The Colliery side scored in a remarkably even pattern to be always in control and possessed a heroic defensive unit that, despite a heavy penalty count, kept repelling Rovers.
Horden opened the scoring after 15 minutes when the home pack worked their way into the 22, and Daniel Groves barged over to the right of the posts. David Heckles’ conversion secured a 7-0 lead.
A poor Rovers kick went straight to Luke Watson and he released Ben Turnbull, after 32 minutes, who used the right touchline to good effect as he raced 50 metres to the line, extending the lead to 12-0.
A neat grubber kick by Heckles for Andrew Docherty was kicked dead by Rovers, who were put under severe pressure from four successive five-metre scrums.
Eventually, Craig Gilmour got the vital touchdown as the home pack powered over the line. Heckles added the conversion, for a 19-point lead.
Horden stood firm in defence as the visitors rallied, and they completed the scoring on 73 minutes when Rovers failed to clear their lines and Docherty made no mistake from close range. Heckles added a third conversion.
Victorious coach Glenn Bowman was pleased with his team’s work, saying, “We neededagamethisafternoon and the result puts us in a good position to go again in the New Year.
“The penalty count was worrying and something we’ll have to take a look at but the defence was solid and we gave nothing away.
“We were really under the cosh when we were 190 up, but we held out and I think that was probably the turning point in the second half.”
Horden leapfrogged Rovers into sixth place with the victory.
Leaders Durham City succumbed 50-27 in a riveting encounter at firedup South Shields Westoe, who climbed to third place after handing the Hollow Drift men only a second league defeat.