The second top side do the simple things well while we kicked the ball to them far too often and made too many unforced errors.

Phil Wallis and Peter Robinson werre running the side and they had the usual last minute panics to sort out.  Hooker Andrew Rollins arrived late, and was on a strong looking bench alongside Liam Bailey and Sam Miller. Jack Angus and Ross Wood started alongside Adam Coates with Jay Corbett in the second row and Chris Atkins in the back row.

Referee Graham Crozier had given West skipper Dan Boatman two controversial yellow cards the last time they met at Northern and,  because they clearly hadn't hit it off on that occasion, Stuart Waites was handed the captaincy for the day. He may well keep it next week as Danny is away.

Unfortunately Stu's constant organising from full back couldn’t prevent a lacklustre display, which saw West kicking the ball away, failing to find touch from penalties and unable to get the ball out along the backs.

Park went into the lead after just three minutes with a penalty from fly half Ash Smith, and further ahead on 20 minutes when they opted to kick a penalty to the corner.

With former Westie James Ponton still in fine form in the line out they went for the catch and drive, and steamrollered over the line thanks to the extra input of five backs. Hooker Andrew Dunn the man to emerge from the 20 man melee with the ball.

Smith’s conversion from the touchline gave Park a 10-0 lead. He soon added to it from a penalty in front of the posts after a West hand was spotted nudging the ball back in a ruck.

The home side should have gone further head when Smith put Ali Blair through with a delightful inside pass, but the Park centre lost the ball as he crossed the line.

West’s forwards had been holding their own in both the scrum and on their own line-out, however the visitors didn’t threaten until the half hour when  Peter Youll burst through a gap in midfield.

When he was brought down Park were penalised and Zac Southern got us on the score sheet.

We had all three of their replacements on for the second half but it didn’t make much difference as Park stepped up the pace and looked to get the ball out wide.

Park went further ahead when Andy Foreman just managed to get to a grubber kick. From the resulting five metre scrum Andrew Dunn got his second try of the afternoon and Smith once again converted.

The fly half then got himself on the score sheet - dummying his way through from ten metres and racing in behind the posts to set himself up for an easy conversion.

Park were looking for their fourth try, and a bonus point, and it came on the hour from another penalty kick into the corner.

This time only full back Dan Osborn stayed out of the drive with back row Ben Bell the man to touch down.

We rejigged the side with Stu Waites and Zac Southern switching roles, and began to mount some pressure on the home line.

A flowing move up the right saw Sam Miller, Jay Corbett and Andrew Foreman all take the ball on.

They forced a scrum five metres out, and when Park infringed the ball was quickly sped out right where Zac Southern sidestepped two men to go over and give us our consolation score.

Percy Park: Dan Osborn, Jimmy Baldwin, Ali Blair, Richard Berne, Toby Davidson, Ash Smith, John Scott, Harry Watson, Andrew Dunn, George Purdy, Josh Hedley, Michael Langlands [captain], James Ponton, Ben Bell, Sean Williamson.

Replacements (all used): Jon Kiddy, Leo Caulfield, Tom Turnbull

Tries: Dunn (2), Smith, Bell

Cons: Smith (3)

Pens: Smith (2)

West: Stu Waites (captain), Scott Butcher, Andrew Foreman, Peter Youll, Kyle Jamieson, Zac Southern, Ryan Painter, Jack Angus, Ross Wood, Adam Coates, Joe Rafferty, Jay Corbett, Chris Atkins, Jordan Baggs, Dan Boatman,

Replacements (all used): Liam Bailey, Andrew Rollins, Sam Miller.

Tries: Southern

Pens: Southern

Referee: Graham Crozier (Northumberland)