West could well have won this game by a much more comfortable scoreline but Driffield, while not the force of previous seasons, kept in touch and made the hosts work hard for victory. The Brinkburn faithful would have been happy to see some purposeful attacking and while early-season mistakes were apparent at times there were also some excellent running with ball in hand.

With a strong wind at their backs it was Driffield who had the first scoring chance with a long range penalty from new Australian signing Craig Gray but his effort drifted wide. The visitors were forced into a rearrangement in the backs before kick-off with danger-man and captain Ali McClarron moving in from wing to outside centre and brother Chris up the fly-half jersey.

The season didn't start too well for Danny Weegram though as, after a strong run down the wing with a little over 10 minutes gone, he took a heavy tackle and was forced to leave the field eventually to be diagnosed with a broken arm and dislocated collar bone. He was replaced by Phil Wallis who slotted into full-back with Andrew Hare moving over to the wing. West's first score came shortly after with a typical Davy Tighe try. A rolling maul was powering towards the line and the scrum-half darted form the base to touchdown in the corner. Moss failed with a wide conversion. Tighe was looking very lively and turned provider for the second try on 20 minutes when he took a quick tap penalty on half way and weaved through several defenders before finding Chris Lambert who sped toward the line only to be tackled just short but manage to regain his feet and stumble the last few metres and score. Moss made a great conversion and at 12-0 it was looking ominous for the Yorkshire outfit who had hardly looked like scoring since that early penalty chance. From the restart some great interplay from the Boatman brothers fed a galloping Chocky Davies who was finally hauled down on the 22 but a skewed kick for the corner from a resulting penalty allowed Driffield to clear. Gray pulled Driffiled back with a penalty on 28 minutes and after a Moss miss he added another just before half time to make it 12-6. West would have certainly hoped to be further in front given they had dominated the half despite playing into the strong wind. Nevertheless they could be encouraged by the first half performance and needed to put away whatever opportunities came their way in the second period. But it was the Yorkshiremen who got right back into the game just two minutes into the second half when Gray made his third penalty and when West failed to capitalise on two huge overlaps and penalties right on the Driffield line it looked like it could become one of those days. However Davies crashed over from short range for a converted try to ease the pressure but on 14 minutes McClarron made a superb break from his own 22 and fed winger Furbank who raced clear from Andrew Hare to score and once again bring his side back into contention. The conversion was missed but the game was still very much alive at 19-14. Another period of scrappy play followed with neither side establishing much of an attacking threat. The scrums were messy all day and West will certainly need to sure that up before tackling some of the bigger packs in the league. Moss eased tensions with a penalty on 68 minutes from just in-side the 22 and finally West had the two score cushion back. The game was finally up 4 minutes from time when Wallis, who had kicked well from hand since coming on, finished off another move started by a Tighe break. The captain had been a thorn in Driffield's side all afternoon and was deserving of a man of the match award. West finished the match on top but couldn't add to the score. Coaches Stubbs, Stabler and Burgon will certainly be pleased with the result but will have some things to work on before the trip to Old Crossleyans next Saturday. Finally a word for the referee, Rowan Willans, who had an excellent game in the middle and I heard little criticism from supporters on either side. I am told he is officiating again after a season out with injury so hopefully we'll be seeing back at Brinkburn again later in the season. West: Hare, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Weegram (Wallis), Moss, Tight (capt), Carr, Sawyer, Cullinane, Rudd (Miller), Davies, D Boatman, Myers (Tones), J Boatman. Tries: Tighe, Lambert, Davies, Wallis Cons: Moss 3 Pen: Moss Driffield: Foster, Anderson, A McClarron, Plumridge, Furbank, C McClarron, Gray, Nellist, Mitchell-Williams, Rowntree, B Cooper, O Cooper, Stephenson, Kauter, Jones Subs: Maggs, Luke, Holland Try: Furbank Pens: Gray 3 Referee: Rowan Willans [Durham Society]