Andrew Rollins took his traditional Boxing Day rest, and with Adam Coates recovering from a cut to his forehead, it was a revamped front row of Danny Cookland, Adam Brown and Craig Hadwen which took to the field.
Referee Mark Harrington was kept on his toes throughout, and made his first big decision after just five minutes when Rovers’ flanker Andrew Dring was made to pay for a series of penalties after we had attacked from the kick off.
However, it was the visitors when went ahead after ten minutes when Stu Waites was penalised for offside giving his opposite fly half Daz Fawcett an easy shot at goal.
We came back with one of the few free flowing moves of the game – top scorer Will Hildicth jinking his way over after No 8 Jay Corbett sucked in defenders with a powerful run to the line.
Waites converted and he was on target again after 20 minutes when skipper Ryan Painter finished off after Corbett once again made ground – this time up the left wing.
Rovers came back with a neatly taken try from flanker Mark Burnside after a quick penalty taken by the lively Taz Pelser.
Fawcett missed with the conversion but Waites was successful with two penalties to give his side a 20-8 lead at the break.
Rovers took the initiative in the second half with West winger Max Tennant receiving a yellow card, closely followed by a barrelling run from Ian Pinchen who was delighted to score against his old side.
Fawcett’s conversion brought the score to 20-15 but we remained dogged and Waites gave us a more comfortable lead with a 25 metre penalty after 55 minutes.
With Michael Hogan on the pitch - for the first time in 15 months and three days - both sides slugged it out for the remainder of the game with Rovers hampered by several yellow cards.
West: Zac Southern, Callum Johnston,, Will Hilditch, Peter Youll, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter (capt), Craig Hadwen, Adam Brown, Danny Cookland, John Bunter, Jake Linighan, Chris Atkins, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett,.
Reps All used: Michael Hogan, Matt Siddle, Alex Barker, Jonny Hunter
Tries: Hilditch, Painter,
Cons: Waites (2)
Pens:: Waites (3)
Rovers: Sainty, S Railton, S Barnfield, Armstrong, Gunn, Fawcett, Pelser, I Flounders, T Stead, Lloyd, Rayner, Little, Burnside, Dring, Whitehead (c).
Changes:O’Callaghan, Langley, N Stead, Pinchen
Tries Pinchen, Burnside.
Cons: Fawcett (1)
Pens: Fawcett (1)
Referee: Mark Harrington (Durham Society)_