The game can be pretty well summed up by the sequence of events in the first half. Middlesbrough turned two attacking positions into converted tries and when West got their opportunity in the home 22, it went begging. Both Boro tries were scored by centre O'Farrell and both came when attacking moves looked like breaking down.

The home side were attacking on 13 minutes when the ball went loose and was hacked up to half-way by West, but the chase and subsequent ruck drew in too many players and when the ball came back on the Boro side they had an overlap which was clinically exploited to see O'Farrell race in. The second try came just before half-time when problems at the back of a Boro scrum looked to have brought an end to the attack but a speculative kick ahead was collected by Poole who fed inside to O'Farrell who added his second of the game and fifth of the season.

West had led the game with a long range Tom Dixon penalty on 9 minutes and in the period between the Boro tries really battled hard. The best opportunity came after Martin Todd sold everyone in the ground a dummy and got up to the line but the bullocking run of Jon Norris was held up and Middlesbrough eventually cleared.

The second half was more of an attritional affair, with West never really looking like coming back from the 14-3 defecit. The try just before the break had been a hammer blow and the young visitors never recovered. Marty Howe put an end to the quick ball West were getting in the first half and that made it ever more difficult to break down the resolute Boro defence. Penalties from Moore and O'Farrell either side of a try from substitute Fingland left West facing a fourth consecutive league defeat and the realisation that the promotion campaign is now pretty much dead and buried.

Mikey Young looked lively on his league debut but the England youngster never really had change to use his pace in attack. He also suffered a dislocated finger but was able to finish the game thanks to the 'healing' hands of Michael Geritz! Gav Painter threatened to break the line a couple of times but was again well marshalled by the resolute Boro tackling. A further worry to West would be an early injury to Anth Carr. He received a nasty cut on the foot from a stray boot and was forced to leave the field. Hopefully it proves not too serious and the several weeks rest will see him fit to resume in the New Year.

It's hard to put a finger on exactly what West need to change to end this losing streak and certainly looking at the score from this game doesn't tell the full story. The truth is, in games like these, you have to take your chances, and if you make defensive mistakes expect to be punished.

West must regroup over the Chirstmas period and a win over Rovers on Boxing Day is just what the doctor ordered. The Friarage side will definitely be up for avenging their poor display earlier in the season at Brinkburn, and probably couldn't think of a better time for a local derby coming off a run of good form.



West: Masshedar, Lambert (Tighe), Edwards, Hodgson, Todd, Painter, Young, Carr (Robinson), A Dixon, Norris, Miller (Garside), T Dixon, Rudd, D Boatman, J Boatman (capt)

Pen: T Dixon

Middlesbrough: Moore, Micklewright, O'Farrell, Rust, Poole, Lee, Wright, Warsama, Horton, Chapman, Webb, Bradford, Pattinson, Howe, Barker
Reps: Fingland, Catterson, Bivens

Tries: O'Farrell 2, Fingland
Cons: Moore 3
Pens: Moore, O'Farrell

Referee: Nick Mashadar [Yorkshire Society]