Against a side struggling for confidence we failed to gather any early initiative and poor tackling allowed home winger Tony O’Connor to score after just eight minutes.

We did come back and scored the first of three tries from catch and drive line-outs on 16 minutes. Tom Dixon got the first which was superbly converted from the touch line by Stu Waites.

But the lead wasn’t to last for long. We lost our own line-out in the wind and O’Connor again went in for a try converted by Chris Stewart.

Line-outs were proving to be the games best attacking option and Chocky Davies reduced the arrears on 38 minutes when he was driven over after another line out from five metres out.

At 19-12 down at half time we were facing a difficult task as the wind strengthened,  but finally picked up our game and closed the gap to just two points  when Tom Dixon went over – once again from a line-out.

We went ahead from yet another line-out, but this time the ball went out the backs. Stu Waites was stopped inches short but he managed to feed  Paul Moss who went over and then took the conversion himself.

Sadly that was the end of the scoring despite us taking the game to the hosts.

Altrincham regained the lead with two penalties from Stewart on 67 and 73 minutes, and then with five minutes left centre James Conville seized on a dropped ball on the half way line. He hacked his way to the line just beating  Liam Bailey to the touchdown to make it 30-24.

We were still very much in the game but gifted the home side the win when we botched a drop out from our 22 and then conceded a penalty through arguing. Chris Stewart gratefully stepped up to slot the points and deny us a second bonus point.

We migh have closed the gap with attacks down both wings in the dying minutes but first Jon Boatman and then Greg Edwards were tackled into touch.

Altrincham Kersal: Chris Stewart, Tony O’Connor, Mat Hulse, James Conville, James Singleton, Peter Kilburn, Calum Yates, John Gedis, Tristan Laga, Nathan Bailey, Miles Marsden, Steve Richardson, Dylan O’Grady, Rich Harding, Dean Harris. Reps: Gav McDarmaid, Don Mee, James Singleton.

Tries: O’Connor [2], Yates, Conville.

Cons: Stewart [2]

Pens: Stewart [3]

Yellow: O’Grady [39]

West: Adam Larkin, Greg Edwards, Andrew Cheslin, Paul Moss, Scott Butcher, Stu Waites, Luke Watson, Michael Hogan, Liam Bailey, Carl Robinson [Anth Carr 40], Andrew Davies, Tom Dixon, Dan Boatman [c], Jon Boatman, Gareth Eddy. Reps: Anth Carr, Andrew Dixon, Zac Southern.

Tries: T Dixon [2}, Davies, Moss.

Cons: Waites [1] Moss [1]

Yellow card: Eddy 53