Jamie Russo won the man of the match award in his debut for the Thunder
Gateshead Thunder ended their Northern Rail Cup campaign with a 46-22 home defeat of Rochdale on Sunday.
An open first half saw Thunder stutter a little but they still came in leading 14-8 at the break.
However, the hosts were more clinical in the second-half with six tries, while Rochdale ran in three of their own to reduce their deficit.
Thunder wing Stewart Sanderson helped himself to a hat-trick while Robin Peers grabbed a brace.
The hosts started well, and could have taken the lead within the first five minutes when a delicious grubber from scrum-half Luke Branighan was collected by Robin Peers, but his offload to the wing was poor and the danger was snuffed out.
However, Chris Hood's side didn't have to wait long for to score, as just a minute later a fine, flowing move saw the ball popped out to wing Stewart Sanderson, who ran in the game's opening points.
Defensively Thunder looked solid, but the Hornets found a way through when clever offloading and a sharp burst from full-back Craig Johnson restored parity.
Stewart Sanderson then powered home his second try, when again the ball was whipped out to the left, and the Cumbrian strode over the line to regain the lead.
There were several meaty exchanges between the two sides, with Thunder's Australian second-row Dylan Nash involved at both ends of the field.
First, dogged defence prevented him from crossing over to extend the lead, before his crucial tackle stopped a stirring run from Hornets wing Chris Giles as he was poised to score.
Thunder hooker Andrew Henderson ensured the hosts ended the half in the ascendancy with a storming try after fierce pressure in the opposition 10m.
Despite an unhappy Chris Hood delivering a half-time rocket to his players, it was Darren Shaw's Hornets who made the first score of the second period when Casey Mayberry finished off great work from Wayne Corcoran to bring the scores level at 14-14.
Debutant Jamie Russo enjoyed a fine opening appearance for the North East side, the former South Sydney Rabbitohs utility man sprayed the ball around with glee in the midfield.
Two tries in five minutes re-established Thunders' lead, firstly through wing Robin Peers and then Stewart Sanderson collected his hat-trick when he ran sweetly onto an offload by prop Tabua Cakacaka to make it 22-14, Michael Knowles kicking the conversion.
Visiting scrum-half Liam Bretherton scored the try of the game when his scintillating run took him through the Thunder rearguard to cross the line.
But that revival was short-lived as Chris Parker and Kevin Neighbour took advantage of their experience and Rochdale's tired legs to exert their dominance.
Martin Ainscough notched a consolation try for the Lancashire side with four minutes to go before Dylan Nash added extra gloss to the result with a spearing run and sidestep to complete the scoring.
Gateshead Thunder coach Chris Hood told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"The score flattered us a little bit if I'm honest, but all credit to the lads, they stuck to everything we asked of them.
"We'll build on it, a win is a win, I'm not going to grumble about it.
"We'll take it into next week and the Challenge Cup against Whitehaven."
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