West started the game strongly but failed to come away with any points in the five minutes we camped in the Rovers 22.
The home side were certainly up for the game. They worked hard to get into the game and enjoyed the lion’s share of territory and possession in the first half.
The closest they came was from an overlap on the left, but the final ball wasn’t delivered and when referee David Conway penalised the attackers for not releasing the danger was cleared.
West enjoyed a couple of attacks up the left wing before the deadlock was broken. Ryan Painter went on the blindside bringing Darren Thomas into play before Adam Coates was sent galloping away for a trademark try which Waites narrowly failed to convert.
West kept the pressure on the home side and quickly added a second as the Rovers defence became stretched. The visiting forwards picked and went and it was Andrew Rollins who finally spotted a gap to charge through. Stu Waites again missing – if he got some new boots for Christmas he might want to take them back.
Opposite number Liam Austwicke didn’t fare any better. He could have reduced the arrears with a penalty from just outside the 22 but his kick faded to the right.
A sporting battle between Jonny Boatman and Stewart Grazier had been one of the highlights of the first half as had the refereeing of former West junior David Conway. He’s registered to the Oxfordshire Society but was back in town for Christmas and looks to have a promising future.
The second half was a reversal of the first with most of the play in the Rovers half but, apart from a couple of gallops from Scott Butcher when he came in off his wing, most of the play was in the forwards.
Sam Miller, a second half replacement, went close on a couple of occasions, however it was Jay Corbett, another replacement, who got the third and final try - this time from a roiling maul wide on the right.
That was about it apart from a yellow card for Gav Robinson who put in a tackle just a bit too early. Both sides will have benefitted from the post-Christmas exercise which will help keep them sharp for the league games on January 4th.
One bit of bad news for West was the twisted ankle suffered by Dan Boatman which ended another committed performance from the skipper.
Incidentally, a second derby game will be played at West on Saturday [kick off 2.00 ] between the Stags and Heughers.
Rovers: Steven Barnfield, Jack Gunn, Ian Coulson, David Grand, Adam Smith, Liam Austwicke, Taz Pelser, Andrew Flounders, Jonny Cushlow, Glen Wise [c], Anthony Hanley, Andrew Pinchen, Matty Wilson, Lee Maddison, Stewart Grazier. Reps: Kevin Maguire, Darryl Fawcett, Oliver Dakers, Michale Tucker, Tom King, Ben Cushlow, Mark Power.
West: Luke Mallinson, Scott Butcher, Greg Edwards, Liam Bailey, Darren Thomas, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Owen Bennett, Michael Hogan, Dan Boatman [c], Jon Boatman, Andrew Turner: Reps: Sam Miller, John Painter, Jay Corbett, Gav Robinson, Kyle Jamieson, Davy Tighe, Andy Robson.
Yellow: Robinson.
Tries: Coates, Rollins, Corbett