The fixture also counted as a Durham Intermediate Cup tie and so Rovers’ involvement in the competition is at an end.
Rovers got off to the worst possible start going 5-0 down inside a minute when James Cook scored in the left hand corner and where flanker Howard Johnson also touched down after eight minutes for a 10-0 lead.
A Michael Barnfield penalty reduced the deficit on 11 minutes but City made it 15-3 when centre Chris Metcalfe got the first of his two tries in the afternoon, crossing again just after the half hour, Paul Armstrong converting.

Despite matching Durham in open play, the Whites were unable to make inroads into City’s lead before half time despite laying siege to the away line and having a two-man numerical advantage as the first half drew to a close.

The interval didn’t make any difference to Rovers who were straight back on the attack from the restart but could not make two five metre scrums count and Durham made the hosts pay with further scores.

Wingman Tom Elliott bustled his way to the try line after 53 minutes with Bradley Pears fashioning a more attractive running score five minutes later.

Craig Dominick got City’s final try on 65 minutes, Armstrong converting all three second half touchdowns, including a superb touchline kick to Pears’ try.

There was a late score for Rovers with Liam Wood going in after a good run by Adam Smith and who now have a week off before travelling to high-flying Barnard Castle and Guisborough in consecutive weeks.

Hopefully the break will see some improvement in injuries to players such as Gav Robinson, James Evens and Andrew Dring.

Rovers: Rochester, O’Callaghan, Grand, Gunn, A Smith, M Barnfield, Harrison (si8n bin 55), S Smith, Cookland, Pinchen, Little, Raynor, Church, Wood, Whitehead (c). subs used: Fawcett, Maguire, R Clayton

Durham City: Stewart, Elliott, Pears (c), Metcalfe, Cook, Dominick. Armstrong (sin bin 38), Hogg, Reader, Wilson, Holden, Powell, Johnson (sin bin 39), Davison, Dent. Subs used: Atkinson, Cotton, Bailey

Referee: Fergus Hollins (Edinburgh Society)