In the gathering gloom Mowden managed to get their noses in front to win 22-17 and progress to the semi-finals of the Durham Senior Cup.

The visitors had the advantage of already playing  two games and stormed into an early lead against a West side which was playing its first game of the season. Winger Ross Burton speeding away up the left wing to score in the corner after four minutes.

But the West pack quickly got into its stride with new hooker Andrew Rollins and back row Stewart Grazier prominent in the set pieces.

Mowden’s pack was shoved around the park  and it was no surprise when West were awarded a penalty try on 37 minutes to go into a 7-5 lead.

It wasn’t too last though with Burton bursting through the middle to set up an easy conversion for Tom Hodgson before the injury to Hogan.

The restart was delayed 35 minutes while the ambulances were on the pitch, but it was West who resumed the stronger scoring  straight from the kick off.

Mowden knocked on from the restart and the West pack forced them backwards with Stewart Grazier going over on his debut. Stu Waites getting a superb conversion from the touchline.

West then lost centre Luke Watson to the sin-bin and Mowden eased back into a one point lead thanks to a penalty before  scrum half Marty Lithgo finished off a rare forwards drive from the visitors. Hodgson converting to make it 22-17 with five minutes of “agreed” time left.

Waites reduced the arrears with a penalty, but the gloom defeated any hopes they had of pulling off the win.

The seven subs and rolling replacments meant that only Jordan Bags and Chris Atkins missed a run-out because of the shortened game. Rollins and Heckles joined Grazier in enjoying impressive debuts - on the negative side Ryan Painter limped off early with an ankle injury.

The firsts are away to Middlesbrough this Saturday with the Stags hosting Hartlepool [Old Boys] at Brinkburn.