The result meant that promotion-seeking Castle have completed the double over the Whites who dropped a place in the table after Gosforth’s home win against fellow strugglers Medicals.

Barney got off to a good start with Chris McTurk touching down on four minutes and stand-off Sam Errington crossed after 18 minutes and also kicked the conversion for a 12-0 lead.

If it was the home back that had brought the first two tries it was the home eight the next time on 24 minutes when Doug Shaw broke from a maul to dive over the line, Errington again converting.

The Friaragemen might have imploded but a close range try for Callum Whitehead and Daz Fawcett’s conversion made the score 19-7.

Unfortunately, Rovers immediately gave Castle five points back three minutes later with McTurk finishing off a run by Ed Kirby and he had a hand in the next try on half time when Dan Potts ran under the posts for an easy Errington conversion.

Andrew Flounders forced his way over the line despite facing a wall of green and white shirts after 59 minutes.

After nearly scoring again, Rovers fell further behind on 64 minutes when McTurk completed his hat-trick, just reaching a grubber kick through before it rolled dead; Errington’s extra points making the lead 31-12.

Although the White Shirts created some more chances, the home defence held out and were rocked when two late tries, both converted by Errington, for Greg Upton and Adam Kicks, gave a winning lead for Castle of 52-12 which flattered them a little.

Barnard Castle: McTurk, Bookes, Upton, Welsby, Kirby, Errington, Kicks (c), Haynes, Shaw, Hughes, Potts, Worley, Stanwix (sin bin 58), Larder, Bell. Subs used: Suluga-Fagalilo, Firmin, Souter

Rovers: Rochester, Harrison, M Barnfield, Evens, A Smith, Fawcett, S Barnfield, Lloyd, A Flounders, Pinchen (c), Whitehead, Ryan, O’Callaghan, Wood, Dring. Subs used: Lane, Ross, Pelser

Referee: Carl Hall (Durham Society)