A great second half comeback saw the Friaragemen gain a try-scoring bonus point win with four tries scored by Chrissy Harrison, Andrew Flounders, Liam Austwicke and Andrew Dring.

Rovers were heavily penalised by referee Adam Morrison, especially at the breakdown and suffered two yellow cards in added time forcing them to hold out under great Northern pressure with thirteen men.

Daz Fawcett was unlucky with a penalty kick on 11 minutes when the ball fell off the tee as he approached the ball.

Shane Wright made no mistake after 24 minutes and added the conversion to his own try on 32 minutes when he cut through the defensive line between Daz Fawcett and David Grand for a 10-0 interval lead which was against the run of play.

The Whites fell 15-0 behind with less than a minute gone in the second period when Dan Matthews won a touchdown race after an infield kick by Dom Fawcett.

Rovers response was to pull seven points back on 53 minutes when Chrissy Harrison went over after Andrew Flounders was stopped just short, Daz Fawcett’s conversion cutting Northern’s lead to 15-7.

With an hour played, Rovers had closed things to 12-15 when Andrew Flounders crossed to the left of the posts.

Daz Fawcett’s hit on Wright saw the ball fall for Liam Austwicke to pick up and dart away to the line. Daz Fawcett’s conversion was good and the White Shirts led 19-15.

Paddy Douglas bulldozed his way over on 72 minutes to regain the lead for Northern and Wright’s touchline conversion made it 22-19.

Rovers weren’t to be denied and after some great individual breaks by Callum Whitehead, Andrew Dring went over with his pack and Daz Fawcett’s conversion made it 26-22 to Rovers.

Fortunately Rovers survived the yellow cards for Austwicke and Whitehead and the pressure Northern threw at them to take the win.

Rovers: Harrison, S Flounders, Austwicke (sin bin 80+5), Grand, A Smith, Daz Fawcett, Stephenson, Cookland, Maguire, Pinchen (c), Whitehead (sin bin 80+7), Langley, A Flounders, O’Callaghan, Dring. Subs used: Pelser, D Smith, J Little

Northern: Matthews, Dom Fawcett, Clark, Turnbull, Gordon, Wright (c), Burrows, Connor, Wilson, Hirst, Annis, Douglas, Kay, Taylor, Weightman. Subs used: Holmes, Holliday, Graham

Referee: Adam Morrison (Durham Society)