Rovers failed in all three to play the full eighty minutes and leaked some soft tries. On the plus side, the defensive work has generally been very good and the spirit and effort too.

Rovers looked set to be on the end of a good hiding on Saturday when Westoe’s right wing Jamie Preston scored all of his team’s four first half tries.

Each score followed the same pattern; some elusive running and quick passing and finding Preston in the right place and in space and the speedy winger did the rest, finishing each move off in style but looking like having used the minimum of effort.

With all tries having been scored in the right hand clubhouse corner, it made for difficult conversions and it took four goes for Zach Clark to find his direction.

Trailing 22-0, the hosts had a rare chance towards the close of the first half to get some points on the board but, after making good ground, Rovers panicked and missed out.

Whatever player-coach Steve Smith said at half time certainly worked with Rovers, with nothing to lose, coming back out a team transformed.

Liam Wood likes to score against the odds and he put in a typical mazy and determined run to cross on 42 minutes with Daz Fawcett’s conversion cutting the deficit to 22-7.

Those seven points were cancelled out five minutes later when, after a sequence of charges at the home line, Clark touched down and also converted for a 29-7 scoreline.

The Friaragemen’s captain Callum Whitehead was, once again, leading from the front and he scored a trademark charging try after 52 minutes with Ryan Hodgson’s conversion making it 29-14.

Rovers conceded a close range effort from hooker Rob Scorer on 56 minutes to make the lead 34-14.

Just when it looked as though it was one step forward and one backwards, Rovers upped their game to take control and have Westoe reeling.

A superb period of forward pressure saw Paul Kirton and Fawcett held before Whitehead broke clear to get his second try, Fawcett converting.

The number eight then looked to have got a hat-trick but his ‘try’ on 67 minutes was ruled out as being held up. This was only a slight setback for Rovers for they scored from the resultant five metre scrum, Danny Charters picking up and releasing Hodgson who took his chance well. Fawcett’s touchline conversion was deadly accurate and it was now 34-28.

Rovers, incredibly, weren’t finished and took the lead with another good try after 75 minutes.

The forwards had taken the upper-hand in the scrum and another solid set piece just outside the Westoe 22 saw Tyrone Church bring half back partner Fawcett into play and he put Michael Railton in and then added the conversion for a 35-34 lead.

Could the White Shirts hold out?

A penalty on halfway allowed Westoe to go deep into the home territory where they met some great defensive work as Rovers protected their line. Another penalty in the Steetley corner, with Mr Sutherland, saying there would be time for a lineout, gave the visitors a last chance and stand-off Jordan Carey eventually found some space to run in and break Rovers’ hearts.

Rovers have a chance to return to winning ways when they visit second bottom Gosforth on Saturday.

Rovers: M Railton, Hodgson, S Railton, Church, O’Callaghan, Fawcett (sin bin 47), Stephenson, S Smith, Pinchen, Lloyd, Langley, Little, Charters, Wood, Whitehead (c). Subs used: D Smith, P Kirton, R Clayton

South Shields Westoe: Moffett, Preston, Clark, Worthington, Moseley, Carey, S Hughes, Lamb, Scorer, Elliott, A Kirton (c), Younghusband, Ramsay, McKenzie, Gaff. Subs used: Sant, J Hughes, Pascoe

Referee: Ray Sutherland (Durham Society)