Rovers had a sufficient buffer to make sure that they could not be overtaken and so stay in 4th place in the league table but now have to play catch-up on Durham City who have opened up a seven points’ gap.

Selection for the Whites was hampered by eight players being missing from the eighteen that had faced and beaten Medicals last time out.

There was great concern for Connor White who had to be taken to hospital after being injured part-way through the second half. Thankfully, other than a bit of concussion there was no other injury.
White’s injury produced a great piece of sportsmanship by Morpeth’s number 8 Rory Morrison who, as a doctor, treated White alongside the home physiotherapist, having subbed himself to do so.

Rovers got off to an awful start with Morpeth throwing everything at the visitors and going 19-0 ahead after only 16 minutes.
Rovers were, understandably, trying to settle after the selection disruptions but fell behind after two minutes when Carl Hill crossed with help from his forwards.

It was 9-0 after nine minutes when Kieran Brown got hold of a Daz Fawcett kick ahead and streaked to the line and also added the conversion to his own try.

A counter-attack by Will Thornton and James Phillips then set up James Defty who had a simple stroll-in. Brown kicked his second conversion and Morpeth already seemed to have the win sewn up.
The Friaragemen hit back and play up to half time was even with neither side managing to conjure up the vital last break.

A good start to the second half was vital but Rovers, inside a minute, had fallen further behind 24-0 when Defty got on the end of a charged down Fawcett kick.

The White Shirts came back at Morpeth and were rewarded for some tremendous pressure when Michael Tucker powered over, Fawcett converting.

Neither side could turn pressure into points as both defences held firm until Hill charged over from another catch and drive as time was nearly up.

There was a last-gasp chance for James Evens who put in a good run but he was tackled five metres out.

Morpeth: Thornton, Brown, Phillips, Lynn, Rogers, Birch, Lawn, Carmichael, Hill (c), Moodie, T Michie, S Michie, Craigs, Defty, Morrison. Subs used: Armstrong, Lakey, Evans

Rovers: B Cushlow, Fleet, Mulvihill, Gunn, Smith, Fawcett, Church, I Flounders, A Flounders (c), Tucker, Hanley, Baxter, White, Maddison, Grazier. Subs used: Cookland, Wood, Evens

Referee: Graham Crozier (Northumberland Society)