Chargers props Adam Tran and Mark Clune led the way, enabling hooker and halfback combination Nathan Coughtry and Matt Stone to dominate, the pair at their most potent at the start of the second half as the Londoners built a decisive 14 point lead.

Tran opened the scoring, as the Chargers went wide on the left on a repeat set in the third minute but Storm were level when full back Richard Squires crossed wide on the left after the ball had been shifted crossfield following a penalty.

Soon after, Gateshead were ahead for the only time, a cut out ball from Scott Woods putting winger Dan Mole over in the corner on the left for third unconverted try of the match, as the Storm forwards took charge.

Gateshead were their own worst enemies, however, losing possession in contact and the ball being swept up by the Chargers who found Tala Petelo free out wide, his transfer seeing David Wojciewockz in by the posts, Coughtry converting.

Right on half time, Stone supported superbly to go over having initially made the break that set up the position, Coughtry with the extras to make it 16-8.

Four minutes in to the second half, Tran’s offload saw Ben Hird skip over on the right, but Squires made sure Thunder stayed in contention with his second score on the left after concerted pressure.

Stone was in again in the 55th minute, gathering the ball after it bounced back from the posts on a last tackle kick, Coughtry converting.

But, on the hour, Scott Woods followed up a kick to the left to touchdown, Adam Houston with the first Storm goal to narrow the gap to eight points.

Man of the match Coughtry kicked a penalty ten minutes from time but there was a late scare for the Chargers when a grubber from Squires was pounced on by Mole for his second, Storm finishing level on tries scored but denied by Coughtry’s boot.