Rovers looked forward to the visit of Gateshead for their final league home game of the 2024-25 Season. Gateshead had cemented their promotion to Durham and Northumberland League 1 the previous week with a win against Barnard Castle.

In the corresponding fixture at Gateshead, Rovers had lost 40-15. In that game the Rovers' coaches had been impressed with Gateshead’s ability to turn Rover’s errors quickly into points as well as their general high tempo game. A challenging test was expected.

Unfortunately two late cry offs due to injury and illness meant that Billy Lloyd and James Keers couldn’t play. They were replaced at short notice by Joe Little and Benji Fenwick, both making welcome returns.

A ferocious opening 10 minutes saw heavy tackles from both sides. However a number of carries by Shane Jeffrey, Little and Jack Gunn led to Rovers breaking the gain line and concentrating play in and around the Gateshead 22.

Gateshead’s impressive back row attempted to disrupt these carries with steals on the floor but were penalised heavily by referee Temple. This led to a penalty kick from FAWCETT being converted on 11 minutes.

By this stage a clear pattern was emerging of Rovers carrying the ball through the middle to tie in Gateshead’s forwards and back row whilst Gateshead attempted to speed up the game and move the ball wide.

On two occasions Gateshead had appeared to make breakthroughs via their speedy backs but were correctly pulled up for forward passes on both plays.

Despite this the majority of possession was Rovers. The line out was providing consistent, clean ball through the accurate throwing of Josh Healey and catching of Craig Vincent, The scrum via the front row of Healey, Matty Saunders and Lewis Powell was comfortably holding its own.

Strong carries again from Jeffrey and Gunn assisted by inside centre Cam Lithgo put pressure on the Gateshead defence who were again penalised for hand in the ruck. FAWCETT again converted a penalty kick on 18 minutes.

The pattern of play continued with Rovers denying Gateshead the opportunity to break out whilst Fawcett kept the game pegged in and around their 22. Gateshead’s defence held firm though denying Rover’s any clear scoring chances. Scrum half Corey Railton managed to break the gain line on three occasions with great runs from the line out but Rovers were unable to capitalise.

Full back Ellis Trimble made a series of clever half breaks when returning kicks but Gateshead managed to keep the dangerous Trimble under wraps.

On the 26th minute Fawcett narrowly missed a penalty kick from wide on the left.

At the half hour mark Gateshead showed their strengths, isolating a Rovers player out wide, turning the ball over and in series of plays took the play up to Rovers 5 metre line.

Some great defence across the team looked to have kept Gateshead out but they kept their heads and scored out wide. The conversions was missed.

Half Time Rovers 6 - Gateshead 5

At the start of the second half Gateshead clearly set out to raise the tempo to shake up Rovers' approach. The change in pace initially rattled Rovers and from a scrum in the Rovers 22 Gateshead produced a great wrap around move in their back line to see their left winger split open our midfield defence which led to a well executed score. The conversion was good.

Despite the impressive opening Gateshead struggled to impose their game plan due to a number of passing and kicking errors which brought Rovers gradually back into the game. Blindside flanker Ethan Wilkins made a number of runs breaking the gain line being ably supported by Vincent and Little. Gunn remained to the fore with a series of carries of the base of the scrum.

Gateshead almost broke out through heir inside centre but the move was snuffed out with an excellent heavy tackle by left wing Kieran Wright.

The game inevitably became less structured as players tired which given how contact heavy a match it was been was no surprise. Rovers brought on their remaining squad players; Fenwick, Jacob Cairns and Freeman Lane to bolster the cause.

For Rovers this led to Trimble, outside centre Alex Rochester and right wing Ryan Harrison increasingly becoming more influential.

Good, quick passing from Railton, Fawcett and Lithgo saw Gateshead stretched and allowed Rochester to make a half break cutting back inside the midfield.

After a number of forward carries the ball came back to Rochester who put in a clever grubber kick behind the scrambling defence. Harrison, who had worked tirelessly all game, took advantage of the hesitation. He burst between the defenders stepped inside then put a well weighted pass to Rochester who was looping on the outside. ROCHESTER scored with a great run and dive in the corner despite the attentions of two would be tacklers. The difficult conversion was missed

Momentum shifted again with Rovers taking play into the Gateshead half, a series of close carries from the Rovers pack again had Gateshead under pressure, leading them to being penalised for offside.

FAWCETT converted the penalty kick giving Rovers a 14-12 lead with 8 minutes to go.

Gateshead kept sustained pressure on Rovers for the remaining minutes left.

Some excellent tackling and counter rucking with the likes of Trimble, Jefferey, Vincent, Gunn and Lithgo to the fore looked as though they’d done enough to secure the win. However Gateshead prevailed with their left wing again wrapping around his centres to score a good try to the right of the posts.

Full time Rovers 14 - Gateshead 19

Ultimately it was a disappointing home loss for Rovers ,when there was a result very much there to be taken. However there were lots of positives both individually and as a team as a whole to be taken from the performance. Credit to Gateshead too for their perseverance to take the win.

MoM - Jack Gunn - a non stop back row performance from the No.8 and Captain.