Despite having long spells on top in the scrummage, and the best of the territory, we struggled to turn it all into points. Rovers kept plugging away and, in their new half back combination, they have a potent force which should keep them out of relegation trouble.

We gave away too many penalties to make life comfortable for ourselves with both sides were guilty of a series of handling errors.

The home side did get a perfect start with new fly half Adie Rose taking possession from a line-out and sailing passed Jonny Boatman and Gavin Painter to go in under the posts.

It was to be a rare first half visit to the West 22 for Rovers as West came back with as series of attacks mastermidned by a busy Davy Tighe. His 9th minute chip through caused all sorts of problems before it was cleared.

Then he raced clear himself on the quarter hour, but only Andy Dixon had the inspiration to follow up, and the Rovers defence was able to wrap him up.

Both sides were keeping it tight but, when West finally got the ball out wide to dangerman Thorn, it looked to have reaped instant dividends. He galloped down the right beating his man and offloading inside to Gavin Painter as he was tackled. Young Gav touched down but play was brought back for the touchjudge's flag - much to Thorn's bemusement.

He may have continued to be bemused by the lack of ball coming his way as West kept up the pressure on Rovers.

Something had to give and Paul Moss stroked over a penalty in front of the posts as Rovers eager defence strayed offside.

The pressure was kept up but mistakes were halting the flow. On the half hour we were close to breaching the Rovers line, with some strong running from the backrow and Peter Hodgson in particular, but the pressure was relieved when Rovers were awarded a penalty five metres out,after we were judged to have been quilty of crossing.

Rovers mounted a rare attack down the left, both Stuart Palmer and Paul Kirton were in space, but a careless forward pass let West off the hook.

We took advantage just before the break with that man Thorn once again the hero. This time Painter was the provider as he drew the Rovers defence sending in the perfect pass to allow Thorn to step inside his wing man and race over. The conversion made it 10-7 to West at the break.

The timing of the try couldn't have been better, but it was Rovers who reacted the strongest. Gareth Foreman broke clear after the restart and West were penalised for killing the ball. However, the Rovers new No 9 sent his kick just wide with the strong breeze blowing straight across the ground and into his face.

Peter Hodgson broke up Rovers next attack by kicking away a dropped ball. He led a West cavalry charge up the field which was only halted when Steve Jones dropped on the ball on the ground - our attackers were strangely penalised for trying to get the ball off him.

Rovers did continue their pressure. Dan Boatman was yellow carded for coming in at the side and Rovers opted to go for a line-out. The catch and drive saw Stu Palmer driven over with Foreman slotting the conversion to make it 14-10.

But that was the end of Rovers best spell of pressure.

The West forwards seem to relish being a man down. They drove back into the home 22 where Paul Moss grabbed an easy penalty after desperate defence saw Rovers infringe at a maul in their 22.

Moss did try a 45 metre effort minutes later, but the breeze sent it wide, and then on the hour he just missed with a closer effort.

Most of the play had been down the middle but on the rare occasions we got the ball out wide it paid dividends. Andrew Hare finally got his chance on 75 minutes. Neil Howe sent him away and he managed to get to ten metres from the home line before he was bundled into touch.

Young Tom Dixon stole Rovers throw and Neil Howe almost got over with a typically strong run but he did offload to Paul Rudd who was in support on his right. It wasn't the easiest of balls for "Garse" to take but he skillfully caught the ball by trapping it against his left thigh. He managed to transfer it to his right hand to slam it down for the touchdown as he was tackled by two Rovers defenders.

Moss converted and at 20-14 with five minutes to go all West had to do was play sensible rugby.

But that doesn't happen in these derby games. Rovers came back and a series of West errors kept the hosts in our half. The pressure told on 79 minutes when winger Michael Barnfield finished off a blind side move by going over in the corner to make it 20-19.

There is a history of last minute kicks winning games between Rovers and West and no doubt everyone in the ground was thinking "could it happen again?" Well, not from out on the touchline into the breeeze it couldn't, as Gareth Foreman's effort was wide and short.

That wasn't quite the last bit of action, as the referee decided there were seven minutes of injury time. Neither side pressured the opposition line as the clock ticked down.

Rovers B Foreman, Barnfield, Jones (c), Kirton, Lilley, Rose, G Foreman, S Smith, J Cushlow, Wise [Shepherd 51], Power, D Smith, S Palmer, Dring, S Hall. Subs: Shepherd, Taylor, T King.

West: Painter, Thorn, Hodgson, Howe, Hare, Moss, Tighe, Carr [capt], A Dixon, Robinson [Cullinane 65], Rudd, T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Garside [Miller 78]. Reps: Cullinane, C Miller, C Cheslin.