The hosts had led for most of the game but when Jon Boatman's mazy run and score gave us the lead with only 8 minutes left we looked favourites to hold on for the win, especially as Park had gone down to 14-men when James Ponton was shown a yellow card in the build up to the Boatman try. But credit to the former West man's side, they marched up-field and having kicked a penalty to deep inside the 22 they rolled the maul right up to the line before moving the ball to the short side and hooker Andrew Dunn diving in at the corner. Referee Michael Harris was right on the spot to award the try despite some protest about Dunn having been in touch before grounding the ball.

There was time for the restart but when Gareth Foreman tried a long range drop goal that drifted wide, Park happily smashed the ball into touch in-goal and celebrated a well earned victory.

Despite losing the game so late on we could look back on the first half and for a clearer picture of why we didn't win the game. We had four excellent scoring opportunities deep in the Park 22, two ended by handling errors, one with a lost lineout 5 metres out and the other with Jon Boatman held up over the line. Contrast that with the home side who paid only two visits to the 22, the second of those resulting in skipper John Scott diving over under the posts for the only score of the half. The lively scrum half finished off a position set up by good running from half-back partner Martin Shaw who had been tackled just short.

We levelled the scores at 7 points all just 4 minutes into the second half with a great counter attacking try. Park were threatening a score of their own but Anth Carr turned the ball over brilliantly just 10 metres or so from our line and the ball was quickly shipped out to Darren Thomas who sped up the left wing. It looked like he would make it all the way himself but when caught just short managed to give a pass to Jordan which the full-back juggled, but held on to for a touch down under the posts.

Jordan then had the chance to give West the lead with a long range penalty on 47 minutes but it never really threatened the uprights. Park responded with another attack and despite going close had to settle for a simple penalty from under the posts, easily converted by Ashley Smith for a 10-7 lead.

Jordan saw another attempt narrowly miss on 54 minutes and the scoreline remained until the final ten minutes with West certainly looking the more likely of the two sides to score but the Park defence also looking strong and forcing errors. Eventually it was captain Boatman who got the breakthrough, lining up in the centre and making a great break through the Park backline, stiff-arming full-back Smith to complete a fantastic individual try. Jordan added the conversion to put us in the driving seat for the first time but we couldn't hold on and had to settle for a losing bonus point which at least keeps us only a point behind Park in the league table.

West: Jordan, Thomas, C Cheslin, Hodgson, Larkin, G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr, Bailey, Robinson, T Dixon, Davies, D Boatman, J Boatman, Stockdale (Howard). Reps (not used): Coates, Waites.

Tries: Jordan, J Boatman. Cons: Jordan 2

Percy Park: Smith, Turnbull, Blair, Potts, Stock, Shaw, Scott, Wafer, Dunn, Purdy, Fidler, Langlands, Dixon, Dunn, Ponton. Reps: Donald, Davidson, Griffith.

Tries: Scott, Dunn. Con: Smith Pen: Smith

Yellow-card: Ponton

Referee: Michael Harris (Northumberland)