However, the West boys were in imperious form and played some sublime rugby which was a joy to watch. The difference was the unsung heroes of the tight five who competed hard all game and laid a winning platform for outstanding half backs Baden Knibbs and Ben Reed to exploit.

In the opening minutes Middlesbrough ran the ball deep inside their own half and were put under pressure. The ball was spilled and CJ Beales pounced. The winger, who had arrived after the kick off and had only just taken the field, reacted first with a clever kick through. His pace took him ahead of the cover and he touched down for an opportunist try.

Will Hilditch, who had an off day with the boot by his high standards, missed the conversion. In perfect conditions, West began to impose their mesmerising brand of rugby with some clever support play and quick rucking. However, it was from a set piece that the next score came. The West pack won a ball against the head on half way and the imposing Jack Mason drove from the back of the scrum and fed Beales. The winger had lots of work to do as he slipped past several defenders and raced home for his second try, Hilditch converting for a 12-0 lead.

West were beginning to find their form and with Knibbs and Reed controlling the game, it was no surprise when West scored again. Shane Jeffery who has recently added some powerful running to his game charged down the middle of the park, battering the brave home defence. He fed the ball to Reed who passed on to Hilditch. Hilditch drew the cover and sent fellow centre Michael Hainsworth galloping down the left for an excellent try, built on team work and crisp handling at pace.

Middlesbrough came storming back but were finding it difficult to exert any real pressure. With the haunting presence of Issac Robinson in devastating form tackling any maroon shirt in view, the visitors put in some magnificent tackles. In the space of about ten minutes, huge hits from George Wall, back to his marauding best, James Piper, Reed, Jeffery and James Baxter knocked the home side back and snuffed out any hopes of a fight back. West were flying at this point.

With Mason, Jeffery, Baxter Callum Montgomy and newly returned Billy Storm launching surging runs in to the heart of the defence, backed up by some excellent close support and unselfish passing, West scored yet another contender for try of the season.

The home side kicked the ball to half way where Callum Johnston collected and weaved his way back up the field with a fabulous run before he passed on to CJ Beales. Beales weaved through the initial cover and when he was stopped he threw out an optimistic pass to Robinson. With characteristic skills, Robinson reached behind him and in one movement passed a difficult ball to James Piper. The make-shift winger rescued the awkward pass and then spotted James Baxter on his outside.

Baxter proved unstoppable from ten yards as he bulldozed his way over, sending the away support into raptures, giving West a 22-0 lead. Baxter was involved in the action moments later when he made a trade-mark tackle and then from the ruck on his own 22 he picked up and sped down the right wing. Inexplicably he stumbled and executed a perfect forward roll just short of the Boro 22. Unfortunately, this was not to be his most embarrassing moment of the morning.

The half finished with a cruel blow for Middlesbrough. The ever alert Knibbs, who is in a rich vein of form, charged down a kick and Billy Storm picked up and scored. Storm looks full of running and has shown remarkable skill in switching to the second row so effortlessly. West finished the half with a fantastic pick up by Reed direct from a line out after Baxter had thrown the ball long .

Middlesbrough started the second half brightly and deservedly got on the scoreboard following an excellent pick up from the full back to reduce the arrears to 27-7. The home side enjoyed a good spell and could have scored again, but a thumping tackle from Johnston stopped them in their tracks. West soaked up the pressure well and worked their way out of trouble. After winning a solid scrum on half way, Reed executed a beautiful miss move in the centres and his perfectly timed pass sent Hainsworth away. The centre still had work to do but had the speed to beat the defence for a 34-7 lead, Hilditch converting.

West showed no let up as they picked up the tempo once more. Storm was proving a real handful with his running and he set up a driving maul close to the Boro line. As Knibbs swept the ball to Reed, the outside half cleverly held the ball up and popped it inside for Callum Montgomery to power his way over. There was no respite for the Boro players, as Hilditch made an excellent run deep into the home half. As the pack drove forward CJ Beales, who had enjoyed a hectic morning, touched down for a try. Alas he was a full ten yards short of the try line and his plaintive moans brought little sympathy from the West faithful. Moments later Baxter fumbled the ball with the line at his mercy and managed to make his mum blush with his rather colourful language which he seems to have picked up at the cricket club.

The West pack was in full flow and after Storm once again had made good yards, Wall raced through the gap and linked with Montgomery. The prop sold a dummy and finished with a reverse pass behind his back that sadly did not quite go to hand. As Middlesbrough came back at the visitors, a clever kick through by Knibbs was scrambled to safety. West won the ball against the head shortly afterwards and then from the ruck, Baxter made no mistake as he completed the scoring with another powerful drive. Showing great resilience, Middlesbrough refused to throw in the towel and ran in a second try which was no more than they deserved.

This was a great performance by the West players. There is no denying the pace out wide or the craft and leadership of the midfield but the pack deserves praise for their performance today. The front row of Montgomery, Baxter and Alex Hester laid a solid foundation. Hester in particular deserves a mention for his work rate and scrummaging and his willingness to take on the unglamorous aspects of winning and securing possession. The new second row partnership of Storm and Jeffery looks formidable while the back row is the stuff of nightmares for the opposition. Mason, Robinson and Wall possess pace, guile and power in abundance and are a tightly knit unit.

West Hartlepool management coaches, players and parents would like to thank Middlesbrough for hosting them at such short notice following a late cancellation by Leeds West Park.

WEST: Callum Johnston , (Nicky Rathbone) CJ Beales, William Hilditch, Michael Hainsworth, James Piper, Ben Reed, Baden Knibbs, Callum Montgomery, James Baxter, Alex Hester, Shane Jeffery (Charles Tilly), Billy Storm, Isaac Robinson, George Wall (capt.), Jack Mason
Replacements: Adam Lennard, Danny Fox,