Coach Ricky Coyle said the team showed plenty of positive signs despite the result.

“We probably got away to a good start,” he said.

“I thought we played their press well.

“And we were able to cut off a lot of their ball across the wing.

“Tim Peart was a bit part of that.”

The Rovers had a one-point lead at quarter time, but dropped away to only score four goals after quarter time.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur was able to break the game open and kick 13 goals after the tight first quarter.

Coyle said it was a valuable lesson to learn ahead of the Rovers’ semi-final.

“We just need to hold our nerve more in pressure situations,” he said.

“I think we also fell away a bit towards the end of the quarters.”

The midfield dropped the pressure up the field as the game went on and Hawkesdale-Macarthur was able to give its forwards plenty of opportunities to score.

Coyle said he was happy with how the defence handled the pressure.

Our back six were great under pressure,” he said.

“There was plenty of clean ball coming in at times which doesn’t make it easy for them.”

Lachlan Fisher was the only multiple goal kicker for the Rovers with two goals.

Peart was named best on ground for the Rovers.

The loss means the Rovers will face Tatyoon in the first semi-final on Sunday.