After a good spell of results, Rovers have struggled at Blyth and now Gosforth and need to dig deep and rediscover their form with the Boxing Day clash with West Hartlepool to come and a tough start to 2015 with Medicals visiting the New Friarage on 3 January and Rovers visiting league leaders Morpeth the week after.

Stand-off Mark Anderson put Gosforth ahead with a 35 metre penalty on 29 minutes but this was a poor reward for their opening dominance.

Rovers hit back to take a 5-3 lead after 35 minutes when Matty Wilson was carried over the line by his pack but Rovers failed to hold out until half time and went in at the break 10-5 down when Chris Daly crossed from close range, Anderson converting.

The Friaragemen fell further behind on 55 minutes when the home eight again powered to and over the line with Dave Rhodes getting the ball down, Anderson again converting to make the score 17-5.

Michael Barnfield went wide with a 24 metre penalty that would have closed the gap and got Rovers back into the game and the next score went to Gosforth when Adam Bell again finished off a pack drive.

In an attempt to give Rovers a chance to get a losing bonus point, Michael Barnfield kicked a 30 metre drop goal but the game ended with Gosforth deep in Rovers’ territory and looking for another score whilst running the clock down.

Gosforth: Gillespie, Jones, P Smith, Hawthorn, Raffo, Anderson, Ashman, Woodhams, Robinson, Coffey, Rhodes, Venning, Axup, Bell, Daly (c). Subs used: Hall, Black, Levinson

Rovers: Grand, Gunn, M Barnfield, A Smith, Fawcett, S Barnfield, A Flounders (c), Maguire, Little, Langley, Wilson, Church, Maddison, Grazier. Subs used: I Flounders, White, Fleet

Referee: John Ash (Northumberland Society)