West needed to win on their first visit to Rossendale in a bid to close the gap on Rochdale in fourth bottom place. And while West gave it their all they not only left this scenic part of Lancashire empty handed, Rochdale thumped Beverley a few miles down the A56 to make the gap 12 points. After making a dreadful start, West had more than enough possession and positions to win this contest. Rossendale controlled the first and last 10 minutes and West ruled the 60 in the middle. The hosts scored 13 points from those periods of dominance while West could manage only a lone try - albeit a beauty - from Darren Thomas, who came in for Colin Cheslin at full-back. The way West started this crucial contest must have had supporters who made the trip to Rawtenstall ready to watch, cartoon-style, the rest of the game with their hands covering their eyes. Rossendale had the advantage of a very steep slope at the Marl Pits ground and West never saw the ball for the first 10 minutes. They conceded three penalties in the opening exchanges. Rossendale kicked one of the awards to the 22 and shortly afterwards centre Johnny Appleton ran in a try following strong pressure. Skipper James Bramhall converted and then kicked a penalty from the third award. Ten points down. Eight minutes gone. Playing up a hill? It looked like turning into one of those West awaydays when they fold so tamely. Not this time. They took the game to Rossendale and the effort and commitment was first class. Twice they were within inches of tries, but the first time they lost the ball right on the line after a series of close-in drives and then Jon Boatman was stopped by desperate defence when he tried to finish off a big push from a five-metre scrum. Despite this frustration, a 10-0 deficit at the break looked well within their reach. West began the second half strongly and Jamie Connolly looked to have put Peter Hodgson through but he was brought down just in front of the posts by Appleton's bone-crunching tackle. The try was not long in coming. Davey Tighe moved the ball right from a scrum in his own half and Gareth Kerr released Thomas outside him. The full-back still had a lot to do but he kicked ahead, re-claimed the ball and dashed over for the score, which even earned him some applause from the home support. Paul Moss could not add the extras but West were only five points behind with 30 minutes left. Jon Boatman then went close down the left wing and West kicked a penalty award to the corner on the hour only to concede a scrum after the line-out was won. Relieved to still be ahead Rossendale got hold of the ball again but this almost led to a breakaway West try in the 64th minute when Andy Cheslin made a vital interception in his own 22. He could not go all the way and he tried to find Kerr on halfway but the ball went astray. Rossendale had the better of the last 10 minutes. West needlessly conceded a penalty on their own 22 but thankfully Bramhall put it wide. Was that some divine intervention? A chance to go down the other end and score a seven-pointer to snatch victory? Sadly not, Rossendale looked the more likely to score late on and when Thomas dragged down Bramhall as the Rossendale scrum-half kicked through, the hosts took their chance. Some home support appealed for a penalty try but referee Simon Lane awarded 'just' the penalty which Bramhall kicked with ease on 76 minutes. West did not give up but they could not even find a score to grab a bonus point in the remaining minutes. The effort was there as it had been for nearly all of the game but there was no end-product. Rossendale: Dennison, Fontaine [Harrison], Appleton, Wood, Harper, Albinson, Bramhall [capt], Short, Keys, Marshall [Elmer], Crisp [Goosen], Fourie, McKenzie, Healey, Pole. Try: Appleton. Con: Bramhall. Pens: Bramhall [2] West: Thomas, Kerr, Hodgson, Connolly, A Cheslin, Moss, Tighe, Carr [capt], A Dixon, Howard [Stockdale], T Dixon, Davies, Rudd, D Boatman [Bailey], J Boatman Try: Thomas Referee: Simon Lane