Rovers enjoyed some good early pressure only to concede a try from an interception when they were camped on the home line and were never really in the match afterwards.

The Whites will still be wondering how they failed to cross the whitewash in a prolonged period of pressure. They spread the ball instead of continuing to play the phases and Matt Rawlinson caught an intended pass to Jack Gunn to streak away to the line, Ryan Clarke slotting the extra points.

Rovers trailed 12-0 on 17 minutes when the hosts kept the ball alive well and right wing Matty Banning touched down in the right hand corner.

Both sides had scoring chances for the remainder of the first half. Rovers were guilty in successive attacks of picking the ball out of a driving play when they should have continued to power forward and then keeping the ball on the deck when a pick up and go was the better option.

Gateshead extended their lead after 46 minutes with Rawlinson getting his second closely followed by a brace for Banning.
Some sure passing and strong running had brought Gateshead a try-scoring bonus point and a 22-0 lead; showing the Friaragemen the way to do it.

The White Shirts face high-flying Consett at the New Friarage on Saturday.

Gateshead: Anderson, Banning, Foster, Tate, Rawlinson, Ryan Clarke, Archbold, Kelley, Ewart, Moslemi, Surrey (sin bin 63), Shand, Kavanagh, Heelbeck (c), Pluskal. Subs used: S Thandi, Rhys Clarke, Fenwick

Rovers: Austwicke, Gunn, Grand, Coulson, Smith, Evens, Rochester, A Flounders, Maguire, Pinchen, Baxter (sin bin 63), Ryan, J Little, Maddison, Dring (c). Subs used: I Flounders, S Flounders, Wood

Referee: Colin Davison (Durham Society)