A long trek to Mansfield and wet weather were both factors in the performance, which saw the Tigers go down 45-30 at Mansfield Recreation Reserve.
The first 10 minutes of the encounter were relatively even, before the Eagles established a slight break, which they held until the end of the term.
Up four, Mansfield extended its advantage in the second.
There was no defining run that saw the Eagles kick clear, but they gradually built the lead to 10 by the main break.
The game began to slip away from Rochester after the break, and the Tigers trailed by 16 at three-quarter time.
The visitors were in a further hole shortly into the last, but the Tigers recovered from 20 down to bring it back to 15 by the final whistle.
Rochester chiefly deployed Tia Webb (15 goals) and Ava Nihill (10) in attack, while Marli Cottam (5) also had a stint in the goal circle.
The Tigers (4-11) are up against another table neighbour next week, hosting Shepparton Swans (6-9) at Rochester Recreation Reserve, before taking a break in the second week of the split round 16.
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