However, the game will also be remembered for a remarkable refereeing decision on 67 minutes when West were leading 14-7. Exchange referee Huw Jenkins from North Midlands awarded Horden a penalty 30 metres out after hearing a shout of "Ref you're having a mare" from the West technical area. Andrew Turner slotted the kick to bring the game to 14-10 but it did not impact on th final result and the official did apologise to the West coaches after the game for his error.

West had gone ahead in the 15th minute when Davy Tighe got a typically opportunist score. From one of their first visits to the Horden 22 the West skipper spotted a lack of blindside cover from a line out catch and drive and darted along the touchline to score in the corner. Paul Moss struck a superb conversion.

The game was far from an entertaining spectacle with two contrasting styles leading to errors by both sides and to the frequent use of Mr Jenkin's whistle. However, Horden deservedly drew level on 34 minutes when Craig Gilmour finished off a series of drives by the Horden forwards to barrel over under the posts to set up an easy conversion for Andrew Turner .

The score finally galvanised West into action and leading try scorer Gavin Painter finally got his first touch of the ball on 38 minutes. The winger made 15 metres beating three defenders to force a penalty for going over the top. West opted for the line-out in the corner and, when the ball was spun out to the backs, fly half Paul Moss sold a superb dummy and jinked his way under the posts. He added the conversion to provide the homeside with a flattering 14-7 lead at half time.

Horden applied even more pressure at the start of the second half but superb West defending kept them at bay. The home side was up against it on 47 minutes when hooker Brett Cullinane was sin binned for killing the ball. He had only been back on the pitch for two minutes when No 8 Jon Boatman received his marching orders for coming in at the side of a maul.

The yellow cards paved the way for Carl Robinson to make his first appearance of the season and the experienced prop helped steady the West ship. Horden closed the gap with that controversial penalty, but West responded with a tremendous forwards drive up the pitch which ended with Horden concededing a penalty. Again West went for the line-out and the catch and drive was finished off with a surge over the line by the pack with Brett Cullinane emerging triumphant.

Moss missed the conversion but the score was a major setback to a tiring Horden. In the last ten minutes we finally got the chance to run the ball and promptly scored the try of the game. The backs spread play first right, then left, and then back again to to the right wing where Greg Edwards seized on a loose ball to jink passed two defenders to score.

Full back Phil Wallis rounded things off in the final minute when he came into the line to take a crossfield kick from Moss and use winger Painter as the decoy before outpacing the cover.

West: Wallis, Painter, Edwards, Hodgson, Weegram, Moss, Tighe, Carr, Cullinane, Norris, Miller, Davies, D Boatman, Myers, J Boatman. Reps:Henderson, Robinson, Hare

Horden: Hartley, Purvis, White, McCourt, Wheatley, Turner, Watson, Thompson, McDowell, Thirkell, S Black, Paul, Greenlaw, Temple, Gilmour. Reps: James, Pink, Vosper.