We are not yet mathematically safe but losses for Bradford & Bingley, Northern and Driffield means we have a significant cushion which would require all three teams below us to win their remaining two games to have a chance of overhauling us. Northern and B&B will have to do so with maximum points. Northern and Driffield play Horden and Alnwick in alternating fixtures over the last two weekends while B&B follow up our trip to West Yorkshire next up with a home tie against Dinnington.

With the calculator away again, and hopefully staying there, we can focus on what was a fine performance with some scintillating tries. In the pressure of a must-win game and with a severe wind blowing down the pitch it was even more impressive.

The game began with a poignant moment of unity as the two teams, joined by their clubmates from the Colts stood to remember Ed Hunt, their number 8 who had tragically died less than a week ago.

When the game kicked off we raced into the lead with a perfect start. A bouncing kick off as fumbled into touch and from the resulting lineout we were awarded a penalty. A quick kick to the corner set up another rolling maul and we powered over the line, Owen Bennett emerging as the scorer.

A break from Ryan Painter almost led to another try on 15 minutes but he was stopped in the 22 and we had to settle for a penalty attempt but Zac Southern’s effort drifted past the right post.

Park got on the board with a penalty from Alex Tilley and it was his centre partner Guy Pike whose elusive running was causing our defence the most problems.

With the wind in their faces Park had limited chance for long clearing kicks but when they did find a good touch on the half hour a quick lineout just inside our own half led to a terrific try from Scott Butcher. Good hands from Stu Waites, Eldon Myers and Southern eventually set Butcher away and he finished well, taking a late boot to the ribs for his troubles as he touched down. The conversion was again missed so the score remained 10-3.

As the half drew to a close we added our third try, a long rolling maul driving us into the Park half and when the ball came out a half break from Waites was well supported by Myers and he raced away for score in the right corner and keep up his record of scoring in every game he has played for the club! A seemingly impossible conversion from the touchline sailed over for 17-3 lead.

With the wind now in Park’s favour it was all about whether they could use the conditions to get back into the game. The answer was a resounding no.

A quick tap penalty from Painter saw him dart under the posts 5 minutes into the half, securing the bonus point and a 21 point lead, that, even with the conditions, seemed a long way back for Park.

The key moments came in the following 10 minutes as Park had a succession of lineouts deep in our 22 but failed to convert thanks to a combination of dogged defence and questionable tactics. After winning two penalties for pulling the maul down close to the line they opted for a long throw and quick ball out to the backs which was snuffed out and cleared.

Our defence continued to work hard and offer the visitors little space and the kicking game they needed so badly to utilise the wind was ineffective. With the four tries already scored all we needed to do was let the minutes tick by and the more that passed without a Park score the more likely the win looked.

As the visitors frustration grew, let’s not forget they started the game fourth in the table and spent a large part of the season pushing for promotion, a flurry of late points put a nice gloss on the finishing score.

Southern added a penalty from in-front of the posts on 35 minutes before taking a superb long pass from Waites to race in at the right corner for a try as we entered injury time. There was still time for one final score though as straight from the restart replacement Kyle Jamieson made a good break and then popped back up in support to deliver a well timed pass to Luke Mallinson who raced up the right wing to finish off an almost flawless afternoon’s work.

West: Southern, Butcher, Myers, Youll, Mallinson, Waites, Painter, Hogan, Rollins, Coates, Atkins, Bennett, Bailey, Boatman, Miller.

Reps: Jamieson, Chapman, Wood

Tries: Bennett, Butcher, Myers, Painter, Southern, Mallinson

Cons: Southern 2

Pen: Southern

Percy Park: Sutherland, Baldwin, Pike, Tilley, Davison, Smith, Gilmour, Cook, Dunn, Kidd, Hedley, Thompson, Dubois, Cannon, Williamson.

Reps: Watson, Caulfield, Osborn

Pen: Tilley

Referee: Barrett Aldwinckle [Durham Society]