Some kind of record looked to be on the cards until midway in the second half when we finally became the beneficiaries of some penalty decisions.

We hadn't had any in the first half although there were cheers from visiting supporters right on half time when the ref appeared to award us one under the posts. However, he'd actually given us a five metre scrum but there wasn't time for it to take place.

Fortunately, in three games of league rugby this season we have only conceded one try and Boro rarely threatened having to be content with just one Simon Moore penalty.

We crossed the home line five times earning a bonus point with a side which showed three enforced changes. Jon Boatman, Ryan Painter and Liam Bailey all had family commitments, and prop Ross Wood was laid low with tonsillitis.

 In came former Horden skipper Owen Bennett for his league debut with West, Colin Cheslin wast at scrum half and Greg Edwards in the centre. Ian Pinchen regained his place in the front row after recovering from concussion.

Middlesbrough were also missing several players - most notably the experienced Peter Wright who is their first choice fly half these days.

It was the home side who started the stronger and should have gone ahead on ten minutes when they were awarded a penalty for holding on. However, the normally reliable Simon Moore sliced his kick horribly wide.

That woke us up  and we went ahead on 14 minutes through a try by  Scott Butcher. The West backs had the home defence in disarray up the left wing, with both Greg Edwards and Peter Youll making deep inroads  before the ball was spun wide right where Butcher beat the cover. Stu Waites added the conversion.

Youll, Edwards and full back Luke Mallinson continued to threaten the home defence at every opportunity, but the second try came through the middle after the West pack once again shoved the Middlesbrough scrum off their own ball.

Skipper Danny Boatman was first to the loose ball. His hack ahead was chased down by Colin Cheslin who dived over to give Waites an easy shot at goal.

We went into the break 14-0 but lost flanker Chris Atkins to injury just one minute into the restart – Alex Barker coming on to replace him.

We went further ahead after 48 minutes with the first  of our penalty awards  -that was cancelled out by Simon Moore after we were caught coming in from the side.

The pack continued to have the upper hand and it was no surprise when they pushed the opposition back over their line on 62 minutes. Hooker Andrew Rollins emerging triumphant, but  Waites’s conversion attempt was just wide.

Two minutes later Waites was again lined up for another attempt  This time it was No 8 Sam Miller who scored after Colin Cheslin went on the blindside from a scrum ten metres out. Unfortunately,  it was just too wide for Waites to add the extra points. However, we had the try bonus point in the bag.

The final try came on 71 minutes when Sam Miller broke from the base of a scrum to weave his way through the defence for the try of the afternoon and an easy conversion for Waites.

Middlesbrough: Adam Nolson,  Josh Evans, Rob Bellerby, Simon Moore, Jack Bircham, Matthew Todd, Connor Foley, Matty Helm, Ashley Kearney,  Isa Warsama, Dave Hinchley, Phil Harland, Matthew John, Shaun Kay, Jack Pierce.  Reps: Chris McRobert, Tobias Tremlett, Richard Lonsdale.

Pens: Moore [1]

West:  Luke Mallinson, Scott Butcher,  Andrew Cheslin, Liam Bailey, Peter Youll,  Stuart Waites, Colin Cheslin, Ian Pinchen,  Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates,  Michael Hogan,  Dan Boatman [c],  Chris Atkins,  Jon Boatman, Sam Miller Reps: Andrew Dixon, Owen Bennett, Tom Armstrong.

Tries: Miller [2], C Cheslin,  Butcher, Rollins

Pens: Waites [1]

Cons: Waites [2]

Referee: Oliver Mantle [Yorkshire]