Despite the West forwards winning the battle up-front we couldn't make the advantage tell and allowed Billingham's useful backs to show what they could do with some great tries.

With a big travelling support behind them, well outnumbering the home fans, things started a bit more as the script-writers would have planned. Scoring opportunities were few and far between in the opening 15 minutes.

Billingham missed the first clear scoring chance of the game, a straightforward penalty skewed wide with a little help from the gusting cross-field wind. A kick into he corner from West produced clean line-out ball and after several rumbles toward the line Tom Dixon crashed over for the opening try.

Billingham responded with a try of their own, a smart chip through easily collected by Chris Hyndman for the score with West opting to line-up defensively with no full-back in place and paying the price.

A rolling maul brought Andrew Dixon a try but West clearly learnt no lessons from the first try conceded as an almost carbon copy brought Billingham's next try. Chip through - nobody sweeping behind the main defensive line - easy pick up and score!

Bilingham then took the lead for the first time, Craig Shepherd picking a nice line coming in from full-back and racing away from half-way to score under the posts, about the only place a conversion attempt was likely to be successful - and it was duly added.

Facing a half-time deficit after playing with what advantage the mostly cross-field wind was giving left West needing a big second half - and it just wasn't there. Losing Paul Moss and Andrew Davies to injury didn't help but Billigham's defence stepped up, rocking West runners back time after time and tries for Paul Shepherd and a second for Chris Hyndman put them out of sight.

West did manage a consolation try in the closing minutes, finally making inroads and leaving everyone wondering why it took until 79 minutes to see that sort of rugby.

West will certainly have to improve for next weeks trip to Driffield but take nothing away from Billingham, worthy winners, who exposed some weaknesses which will have to be worked on. Rob Thorn and Gav Painter were sorely missed and let's hope the knocks sustained heal and allow Moss and Davies to start on Saturday.


West: Thomas, Swales, A Cheslin, Hodgson, C Cheslin, Moss (Edwards), Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Norris (Robinson), T Dixon, Davies (Best) (Coates), D Boatman, J Boatman, Rudd

Tries: T Dixon, A Dixon, A Cheslin

Billingham: C Shepherd, P Shepherd, A Hyndman, C Hyndman, M Evans, J Evans, Woodhouse, Robinson, Amos, Youdale, Dalton, Wildridge, Hutchinson, Robinson, Dixon
Reps: P Evans, Garbutt, Reay, Tennant

Tries: C Hyndman 2, A Hyndman, C Shepherd, P Shepherd
Cons: J Evans 2

Referee: Steve Havery [Durham Society]