Constant rain throughout the morning had eased a little before kick-off but had already taken it's toll on the usually good Brinkburn surface. The proverbial mud-bath, coupled with both teams having so much riding on the result, appeared to signal a low-scoring game and that proved to be the case with both sides struggling with handling and scoring opportunities at a premium.

It was no surprise then, when having kicked one penalty to the corner after only 5 minutes, we opted for a shot at goal with a second from a more kickable position inside the 22. Gareth Foreman made no mistake for a 3-0 lead which would go on to last most of the game.

He could have doubled the lead only 2 minutes later but his effort sailed just past the right post from 30 metres out. We dominated the rest of the half in terms of possession and territory but couldn't add to that early penalty. Park became increasingly frustrated with the growing penalty count against them but we didn't capitalise on any of the decisions, kicking close to the corner on a couple of occasions but then overthrowing the lineout and allowing the visitors to clear.

There had been plenty of niggle in the encounter between these sides back in October and so it wasn't surprising to see that resume where it left off, pretty much from the first whistle. After a few minor fracas, tempers boiled over in the West in-goal area after an attempted charge-down and having seen players from both sides pile in referee Candlish showed his yellow-card to Jon Boatman and Michael Langlands, both players having been guilty of rushing in from a long way away to get involved. Things didn't cool down much in the 10 minutes that followed though, and as we got back on the attack Gareth Foreman looked to have darted through a gap for the opening try only to be stopped by an arguably high tackle. Had play continued we might have scored anyway but the whistle had to be blown to break up another “disagreement” which had been going on since the previous ruck.

Thankfully cool heads prevailed and both sides got on with playing a physical but fair game after that, the first half ending with Park on a rare foray into the West half. At only 3-0 down having had little scoring opportunity the visitors could have been the happier camp at half-time and as the second half progressed they began to look more dangerous. They had kicked too much ball away and kicked poorly in the first half and once they started keeping the ball in hand, gaps began to appear in the West defence. A couple of knock-ons at the base of rucks ended promising attacks and we relieved the pressure with some good clearance kicks.

Having benefited from a few decisions in the first half it was out turn to feel aggrieved when Luke Watson celebrated a score only to be called back for a forward pass in the build up. Liam Bailey had intercepted a low kick and offloaded to Watson but the centre's finish under the posts counted for nothing.

It was starting to look like a solitary penalty might be enough to win the game but with 5 minutes to play we finally got that try. It started with a rare turnover just inside our half and a clever kick put pressure on Park winger Ali Blair. His clearance to touch only made a few metres and from the resulting lineout the driving maul moved play inside the 22. A couple of phases later Anth Carr picked up the ball and broke straight through the middle of the ruck, rode the tackle of the last defender to score the all important try. Gareth Foreman's conversion completed the scoring as despite Park coming back strongly in the closing stages their final attack was halted by the ball going forward in a tackle.

As everyone's favourite reporter wrote this week – West seem to have a knack of winning big games and so it proved today. It wasn't a classic but considering the conditions it was entertaining stuff and the result keeps the see-saw nature of the title race going. Promotion or silverware is far from won yet though and with Wheatley Hills in town next Saturday there can be no room for complacency - anything other than a win would suddenly make this victory look a whole lot less significant.

West: C Cheslin, Thomas, Watson, G Robinson, A Cheslin, G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr, Bailey, Coates, T Dixon, Davies (A Dixon), D Boatman, J Boatman, Stockdale.

Try: Carr
Con: G Foreman
Pen: G Foreman

Sin-bin: J Boatman

Percy Park: Smith, Blair, Firth, Griffiths, Stock, Shaw, Scott, Wafer, Andrew Dunn, Purdy, Fidler, Langlands, Williamson, Anthony Dunn, Ponton.
Reps: Blakey, Baker, Fidler

Sin-bin: Langlands

Referee: Paul Candlish [Durham Society]