Credit to Middlesbrough, who defended exceptionally well, but for long periods we were camped deep in the 22 but just couldn't get across the line. The two tries we did score came from further out as it seemed from short range the Boro defence had the measure of us and we couldn't break through. As an attacking force the visitors didn't offer quite as much as they did defensively and once we established a lead the result never really looked in doubt.

Middlesbrough had their best moments of the first half in the opening minutes. Straight on the attack from the kickoff they earned a very kickable penalty after a couple of minutes but it slid past the left post. The visitors wouldn't see the ball in our 22 for the rest of the half.

Stu Waites had a chance to open our account with a penalty after 6 minutes following a good counter-attacking run from Luke Mallinson but his effort came back off the post and despite plenty of pressure we couldn't get on the scoreboard until the 23rd minute when Waites successfully landed a penalty. There had been plenty of referee's whistle in the opening quarter and the accumulation of penalties led to Boro flanker Tom Fox being shown a yellow card. Waites then doubled our lead with another shot at goal on the half hour.

We had spent long periods in the Boro 22 but the visiting defence held firm and it took until the final 5 minutes of the half for us to get across the try line, and we did it twice in the space of 3 minutes. Waites got the first with a superb solo effort. Playing in his old position of full-back to cover for the injured Colin Cheslin, he collected a clearance kick and chipped neatly over the on-rushing defence. Collecting the chip he continued the run up the left wing before kicking ahead again and winning the foot race to the loose ball and the try-line.

The second score was a little more fortuitous as another kick ahead wasn't dealt with by the Middlesbrough defence and two hacks later Jonny Boatman touched down to the left of the posts. Waites added the conversion to take the score to 18-0.

The second half was a far less entertaining spectacle, not helped by the worsening rain and gloom. Handling became increasingly difficult but nevertheless with the amount of game time spent in the Boro 22 we should have added to our points tally. The visitors defended resolutely and had a few moments of their own, scoring a try in the closing stages only to be brought back for a foot in touch.

West: Stu Waites, Luke Mallinson, Andrew Cheslin, Liam Bailey, Scott Butcher, Davy Tighe, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Andy Turner, Michael Hogan, Dan Boatman [capt], Jon Boatman, Sam Miller.

Changes: Jay Corbett, Jack Angus, Greg Edwards.

Tries: Waites, J Boatman

Con: Waites

Pens: Waites 2

Boro: Jack Bircham, Adam Nolson, Rob Bellerby [capt], Simon Moore, Connor Foley, Matthew Todd, Peter Wright, Isa Warsama, Ash Kearney, Richard Lonsdale, James Wardle, Phillip Harland, Oliver Heslehurst, Tom Fox, Iain Bradford.

Changes: Josh Lynas, Chris Snaith, Ross McNeil.

YC: Fox

Referee: Paul Candlish [Durham Society]