We had most of the early pressure but Sandal almost got a breakaway try on 12 minutes. The ball was spilt around half-way and the visitors broke away only for Andrew Foreman to chase back for a try-saving tackle in the corner. Skipper Greg Wood did manage to add a penalty moments later for a 3-0 lead.

We bounced straight back with a try out of nothing. Tom Dixon popped up in the back line and worked an opening for Colin Cheslin who got on the outside of his man and sped away, a last ditch tap tackle not enough to prevent him touching down. Stu Waites added the conversion.

After a stint a scrum-half last week Gareth Foreman popped up there again on 23 minutes, picking up from the base of a ruck, slipping through a gap and rounding the full-back for a fine solo try. Waites again converted and added a penalty 3 minutes before the break.

With Sandal flanker James Stewart despatched to the sin-bin it looked as though we were gaining the upper hand but Wood had two chances to peg us back in first half injury time only to see one kick fall just short and the other drift to the left of the posts.

Wood and Waites exchanged penalties in the early stages of the second half as try scoring opportunities became limited partly thanks to a lengthy rain shower during the first half which had made conditions more than a little slippery. Handling errors and ill-discipline on both sides contributed to a stop-start half and it took until 12 minutes from time for the next score to come.

Andrew Foreman capitalised on a poor clearance kick from Sandal and his break set up Andy Cheslin to go over in the left corner. Waites conversion was wide but at 25-9 the game now looked safe.

However, Sandal were far from finished and got a try of their own two minutes later with flanker Jonny Gatus finishing like a good winger down the right touchline. Wood couldn’t convert and while it seemed for a moment like an improbable comeback may be on the game fizzled out in the closing stages and no further points were added.

A fairly comfortable win in the end which summarised our season pretty well. Having lost to Sandal by a similar scoreline on the first day of the season we turned the tables at home as we have done against so many of the sides in the league. Winning our home games again next season will be just as important and if we can throw in a few more points on the road you have to think we have every chance of improving on sixth place.

West: Waites, Butcher, A Cheslin, Edwards, C Cheslin (Watson), G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr, A Dixon, Coates (Wood), Eddy (Barker), T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Stockdale

Tries: C Cheslin, G Foreman, A Cheslin
Cons: Waites 2
Pens: Waites 2
YC: Coates (66)

Sandal: Coad, Martin, Frewin, McCormack, Carroll, Wood, Newman, L Norbury, Heron, Bayford, Thompson, Overton, Stewart, Gatus, Maguire.
Reps: R Norbury, Proctor, Smith

Try: Gatus
Pens: Wood 3
YC: Stewart (38)

Referee: Hatim Tall [North Group]