Let's not be greedy though! The maximum five point win cuts the gap to safety to 7 points with 7 games left to play although West have now played 2 games more than Cleckheaton and West Park and a game more than Rochdale.

The first half was a far more nervy affair than the final score suggests. Despite West dominating possession and territory they only led 19-7 at the break and had spent most of the half locked at 7-7.

The scrum set the platform for most of West's attacking all afternoon and so it was for the first try, Davy Tighe getting the ball down in the corner after a break from the base. Paul Moss slotted the touchline conversion for a 7-0 lead with 7 minutes played.

Steve Pitcher missed the chance to pull three points back moments later when Jon Boatman was penalised for a high tackle but Rochdale didn't have to wait long to be level when Boatman's pass was intercepted by Callum Mulkeen and the speedy winger raced 80 metres to score.

Yellow cards within a few minutes of each other for number eight Leo Frechou and prop Tommy Callaghan spurred West on, opting to go for the corner from two kickable penalties. It looked like they were going to be denied but two tries from Tighe in the final 5 minutes of the half changed the complexion of the game. The first was a dart from the base of a ruck after a rolling maul had took play right up to the visitors line and the second a similar finish, this time following a scrum.

The tries finally gave the scoreboard a look that reflected the way the half had gone but Rochdale were far from out of the game if only they could get their hands on the ball in an attacking area. The first score of the second half was always gong to be important, especially given West's tendency to ship points just after the break. Crucially it went to West, Jon Boatman securing the bonus point with a try, once again, worked from the base of a scrum.

As the half wore on the visitors tired and West began to look threatening with every touch. The last fifteen minutes contained some brilliant rugby and seemed to feature almost every player carrying the ball and making ground. Gareth Kerr had an outstanding game on the wing and, despite not getting the try he probably deserved he had a hand in almost every one of the last four scores. The first, finished by Tom Wilson (on for the injured Colin Cheslin) was again worked from a scrum with Kerr drawing two men and slipping a lovely scoring pass to the full-back.

Yet another powerful scrum let to Andy Cheslin darting up the wing for a try on 70 minutes and with a couple of minutes to go Jon Boatman added his second thanks to a good offload from replacement Paul Rudd.

West's final try came from another Kerr break, this time popping up in-field and splitting the defence before moving the ball wide where Andrew Davies galloped up the flank to finish in the corner.

Rochdale playmaker Steve Collins added a consolation for the visitors in injury time but it couldn't take the gloss off a fantastic performance and win. However, climbing out of the relegation places is still going to be tough and, whilst this win keeps the season alive it must be followed up by similar performances in the next two away games at Mowden Park and Rossendale. A win from one of those games would do very nicely and on today's performance, the quality to do that is definitely there.


West: C Cheslin (Wilson), Kerr, Hodgson, Connolly, A Cheslin, Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, C Robinson, Davies, T Dixon (Rudd), D Boatman, Howard (Garside), J Boatman.

Tries: Tighe 3, J Boatman 2, Wilson, A Cheslin, Davies
Cons: Moss 4


Rochdale: Wellings, Mulkeen, Mair, Pitcher, Flitcroft, Collins, James, Callaghan, O'Brien, Sunderland, Birtwell, Helliwell, Foster, Bradwell, Frechou.
Reps: Ward, Campbell, Blackburn.

Tries: Mulkeen, Collins,
Cons: Pitcher, Collins
Sin-bin: Frechou, Callaghan