To our credit we fought our way back into the game to actually take the lead - albeit for a brief 30 seconds. That set up a tense last quarter where both sides had chances to score, but in the end nobody could deny the hosts deserved their victory - one that had them taking selfies and singing "we're gonna win the league."
We need to preface the remaining games in our season with the mantra "we're gonna stay in the league" as the relegation gap remains three points with some vital games coming up.
We will be bolstered by the re-signing of 19 year old Eldon Myers. His service in the Royal Navy means he should be available for most of the rest of this season where his strength and pace will be useful in a back division which is short of numbers. The youngest member of the Myers' dynasty already has the distinction of representing the Navy against the Army at Twickenham.
The backs did do their job at Horden looking threatening throughout, and scoring two fine tries through Mallinson and Butcher.
But it was the home forwards who held sway. Young hooker Chris Wood got his side off to the best possible start with two electric bursts in the first quarter. The first coming when he ran a good line to take an inside pass and sprint down the wing, and the second when Horden's line-out throw went to the fron. He received the return ball to speed home. Winger Craig Jones converted both from near the touch line.
We didn't have time to regroup before flanker Carl Brown burst through a melee of players ten metres out to go in under the posts, and at 21-0 down we were facing a local humiliation.
However, while the home forwards had the shove in the set piece our backs were looking sharper than of late, and we gradually fought our way back into the game.
Southern failed with one penalty attempt, but notched a second before an excellent move along the 22 saw Luke Mallinson step over in the corner.
Unfortunately, the conversion was just wide but we were back in the game- despite Horden getting a penalty almost from the restart..
We attacked up the right wing with Wood yellow carded for not releasing, and we quickly moved the ball out wide where Scott Butcher went through the gap to make it 24-16 at the break.
The arrears were reduced further on 50 minutes when Taz Pelser was penalised for playing the ball on the floor.
Then Liam Bailey almost claimed a try when pressure on the home scrum saw a wild pass thrown high and backwards - the West flanker very unlucky to knock on as he dived for the ball on the home line.
With the home pack visibly tiring we were dominant, and another Southern penalty reduced the arrears to just two points which was followed two minutes later by a superb left footed drop goal from Stu Waites to give us the lead.
Sadly, it was not to last long as we were penalised from the restart and Jones’s trusty boot restored Horden’s lead.
There was still 15 minutes left and we were the first to attack with a Southern penalty from out on the right just drifting just across the posts.
That gave Horden some new life, and they worked their way back up the right wing forcing several penalties, which they chose to take as scrums
Skipper Danny Boatman was yellow carded at one breakdown, and it was Horden who looked the most likely to score in the dying minutes.
Fortunately, we held out and came away with the bonus point we deserved for an excellent fightback.
Horden: Ross Brymer, Carl Oliver, Luke Watson, Jack McCallum, Craig Jones, David Heckles, Taz Pelser, Michael Thopmpson, Chris Wood, Jona Hudson, Paul Malcolm, Paul James, Carl Brown, Steven Heckles, Newton Turton.
Tries: Wood (2), Brown.
Cons: Jones (3)
Pens: Jones (2)
Yellow: Wood.
West: Zac Southern, Luke Mallinson, Scott Butcher, Peter Youll, Kyle Jamieson, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ross Wood, Andrew Rollins, Ian Pinchen, Owen Bennett, Chris Atkins, Liam Bailey, Dan Boatman (c), Sam Miller. Reps: Adam Coates, Jay Corbett, Greg Edwards.
Tries: Mallinson, Butcher.
Pens: Southern (4)
Drop Goal: Waites
Yellow:
Boatman
Referee: Barrett Aldwinkle.