ROCKFIELD Rovers returned to league action on Saturday at Tintern Abbey in East Gwent Two, reports JACOB DEIGHTON.

Rovers were hungry to bounce back after a first round exit in the Brian Reed Cup against local rivals Monmouth Town 2nds.

Rovers manager Lee Davis made a few tweaks to his starting XI, Dave Seymour, Mike Finnigan and Jacob Deighton coming in for Mike Harold, Harry Thorpe and Andrew Johnston.

The game kicked off with Tintern having more of the very limited first half chances.

The visitors were forced into two early changes through injury to Archie Goodridge and George Hunt, Josh Champniss and Ryan McCallum replacing them.

But the half-time whistle blew with neither team able to find a goal, and the second 45 started as a scrappy affair with chances at a premium.

It looked as if it was heading for 0-0 until a Tintern header was flicked on and Abbey captain David Perrett slid the ball past Seymour for a 1-0 lead on 81 minutes.

But with the last kick off the game, Rovers found the equaliser, the ball ending up at the feet of captain Max Goodridge in the box who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes from the visitors.

And that was that, a point apiece in a close but scrappy game.

The point moves Rovers up to second above Underwood, who lost to fourth-placed Sudbrook CC 2nds 2-1, while Tintern sit fifth on four points from three games.

The EG2 basement battle was a fascinating 6-5 win for Portskewett and Sudbrook against Caldicot Castle 2nds, with the winners travelling to Tintern this Saturday (October 5).

Up next for Rovers is another derby as they host Monmouth Town 2nds in the Benevolent Cup a week on Saturday (October 12) with a 1.15pm kick-off.

Elsewhere, a goal from Lewis Tyler secured a 1-1 draw for Redbrook Rovers away to Ross Juniors in North Gloucestershire 1, while their 2nds won 7-4 at home to Mitcheldean 2nds in NG2, Antony Philpotts and Griffin Rowe with braces, and Jayden Makondora, Paul Brooks and Dan Bodenham also on target.