West kicked off with a strong breeze behind them and took the game to their opponents from the very first minute with a well taken catch by skipper George Wall, who led from the front all afternoon with a series of pulsating bursts. However, the Darlington side were well organised and weathered the early storm as both sides settled into the game.
West opened the scoring thanks to some excellent work in the set-piece. Danny Fox, pressed into service as hooker, won a vital strike against the head and outside half Hilditch raced through the cover and was hauled down just short of the line. The West forwards showed greater hunger at the breakdown and Isaac Robinson darted over for the first try, Hilditch kicking a tough conversion from wide.
The Darlington boys came back into the game and ran the ball well, though the West drift defence and some excellent first up tackling kept them at bay. Baden Knibbs, who is growing in authority in every game he plays this season, sent a well measured kick spiralling deep into the opposition twenty two. West won the ball at the line-out and a trademark bullocking run from Jack Mason set up a ruck. Adam Lennard picked up and ran hard and straight for the line before Callum Montgomery, displaying brutal power in the loose, was able to drive over the line.
West continued to pour on the pressure and the Darlington side were relieved when they managed to clear the ball from their own line to half way. Their joy was short lived, however, as the ball was gathered by David Wells. Brushing aside the first few tacklers, Wells turned on the after burners and scorched his way along the touchline for a spectacular solo try. Wells has been rock solid in defence all season and is becoming deadly when he attacks from deep, proving deceptively powerful and quick.
It is fair to say that any side coached by Andy Boagey does not buckle easily, and so it proved as the visitors gained a foothold in the West half and launched a wave of attacks that saw them go desperately close to the line. However, some uncompromising defence and some big hits kept the black and whites out as West soaked up the pressure.
As half time beckoned, Hilditch thrilled the home support with a brilliant interception, only to be brought back for offside. The visitors kicked for goal but the chance drifted wide and the half finished with West leading 15-0.
The second half saw the Darlington pack come back into the game as they took the game deep into West territory. Despite some powerful running from their talented number eight, West saw off the challenge. Mason, Robinson and Wall were in tremendous form, Wall in particular driving repeatedly into the home defence and Mason making some tremendous tackles in the heart of the defence. West increased their lead when the seemingly ubiquitous power of Montgomery once again smashed over the line.
The visitors ironically enjoyed their best spell of play and were rewarded when their number eight powered over from twenty yards. At 20-5 Darlington were in with a shout but, unluckily for them, they failed to deal with the threat of Baden Knibbs. The Badinator left a series of defenders grasping fresh air as he waltzed through the middle and touched down under the posts, Hainsworth drop kicking the conversion for a £2 scoring bonus.
With the game now secure, West continued to pour on the pressure. There was still time for Montgomery to sell a dummy, flip a pass inside and then crown an excellent afternoon with another try for his hat trick.
Straight from kick off Darlington unwisely kicked straight to Billy Storm. Although dominant in the line-out all afternoon, Storm had been quiet in the loose. Unfortunately for the visitors, the big man seemed to find a surge of energy and he laid waste to the defence, brushing off would-be tacklers with majestic force before finding his stride and crossing in the corner for another excellent solo effort and a 37-5 victory.
This summed the game up in many ways. The West backs struggled to find much fluency; although all played well, it was mainly fine individual performances from Wells and Knibbs, but especially Hilditch who kicked well, tackled hard and made some incisive breaks. The forwards similarly played well as a unit in the set-pieces, but the usual dazzling interplay and sharp handling was not quite there.
Assistant coach Graeme Southern commented during the game that this side West side certainly has some big time players, but it is the unspectacular, gritty players who regularly give their all that make the difference. He picked out the unsung trio of Robinson, Fox and Piper, boys who regularly play out of position if required and who play with tremendous commitment and immense heart week in and week out.
All in all, a good day at the office and great to see Wendy offering the referee the benefit of her opinion on the subtleties of the offside law.

West: David Wells, Ben Foley Callum Johnston, Michael Hainsworth, Ceejay Beales, Will Hilditch, Baden Knibbs, Callum Montgomery, Danny Fox, Adam Lennard, (Jamie Evans) James Piper, Billy Storm, Isaac Robinson Jack Mason, George Wall (capt.)

referee Mr. Tony Jenkins (Durham Society)