By Stefan
January 27 2006

ROTHERHAM'S ACADEMY U21 side produced a winning performance against their local rivals in an evening game at Herringthorpe Stadium.

A solid display of rugby, which produced four tries and stunned Doncaster, gave the Academy side a deserved 23-17 win.

It took the home side 7 minutes to get on the scoreboard with lock forward James Waterhouse going over for a try after a solid drive from the pack.

Doncaster hit back with a penalty then a converted try to give themselves a 10-5 lead after half an hour.

Roth's second score came in first half injury time when inside centre Duncan Richardson put his name on the score sheet going over the visitor’s line after an incisive break from flyhalf Tom Bullough. His try levelled the game 10-10 at the break.

The Academy went ahead six minutes into the second half when wing back Gareth Morley got their third try and established a lead that Doncaster could not reverse.

A second try from James Waterhouse - Roth's fourth - on the hour mark from a catch and drive move strengthened the home side's grip on the game.

Doncaster responded with a converted try but Rotherham retained the upper hand when Tom Bullough converted a penalty from in front of the posts - after missing four conversion attempts - to stretch the home side's lead.

Team:
Charlie Spon-Smith; Gareth Morley, Sam Rogers (Dave Bolton), Duncan Richardson, Peter Lewis; Tom Bullough, Jonny West (Jonny Clarke); Matt Dixon (Chris Ross, Gareth Moon), Anthony Ross (Gareth Mist), Andrew Goodwin (Danny Green), Carl Griffiths (Hugo Mitchell-Heggs), James Waterhouse, Ryan Burrows, Andrew Enevolvsen (Steve Maycock), David Cauldwell (Dai Gustard).

Scorers:
J.Waterhouse (2T), D.Richardson (T), G.Morley (T), T.Bullough (P).

Yellow Card:
Andrew Enevolvsen.