Rovers made the trip to Stockton to face Stockton II in the league, with the hosts having endured a difficult season after already conceding three fixtures. Although Rovers arrived as favourites, the message throughout the week at training was clear: take nothing for granted and deliver a performance.

Rovers could not have wished for a better start. Inside the opening minute, Rochester crossed to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. The pressure continued and, after five minutes, Keers extended the advantage with Rochester adding the conversion to make it 12-0.

On 15 minutes, veteran Smith continued his impressive try-scoring form, battering his way over from 15 metres out. The conversion was missed, but Rovers were firmly in control at 17-0. Trimble then produced one of his trademark breaks before putting Dean over for another try. Once again the conversion drifted wide, but the visitors had stretched their advantage to 22-0.

Rovers were not finished there. Gunn added another unconverted try before the break to increase the lead to 27-0. Shortly afterwards, Trimble got the score his performance deserved, crossing for a converted try to send Rovers into half-time with a commanding 34-0 lead and complete control of the contest.

The second half followed a similar pattern as Rovers' superior organisation and execution began to tell. Seven further tries were added, with Keers completing an excellent hat-trick. Prop Clayton was rewarded for keeping the ball alive and in hand as he powered over for a try of his own, while Rochester grabbed his second of the afternoon. Lithgo also touched down, with Wintersgill and Dixon each adding their names to the scoresheet.

Credit must go to Stockton, who continued to battle throughout and earned a well-deserved try to get themselves on the scoreboard.

The final score was Stockton II 5-75 Rovers.

This was a fixture Rovers were expected to win and they did exactly that. The score could arguably have been even higher had more of the conversion opportunities been taken. While Rovers were not always at their very best, the gap between the league leaders and Stockton's second team was clear to see. However, Rovers can only beat the opposition placed in front of them and did so in emphatic fashion.

Attention now turns to a huge fixture in two weeks' time when Rovers host early pace-setters DMP II. DMP lost their own 100 per cent record after suffering a home defeat to Acklam, leaving Rovers as the league's only unbeaten side. The victory also moves Rovers five points clear at the top of the table and reinforces their position as the team to catch heading into the next round of fixtures.