From last week's victorious squad Robertson and Adam Hutchinson were  missing because of  county Under 20 selection, while Jake Linighan was suspended and Isaac Robinson and Alex Barker unavailable.  Will Hilditch had to cry off on Friday because of a hamstring injury.

Lewis Scott came in for Will and was in the thick of things scoring two tries - it could have been three if a pass from Stu  Waites hadn't been judged to be forward. 

The starting pack saw Tim Blades joining Adam Coates and Aidan Jackson-Smith  in the front row - Craig Hadwen starting in the second row alongside Jimmy Tyers. Only the back row of Atkins, Butcher and Bailey looked familiar.

Despite the fact the eight had never trained together,  they held their own in the scrum against a famed pack, but struggled in the line-out. 

Despite it all  this was  a game we could have won. Penalties and some wrong decision making were to cost us against a workmanlike home side whose ball retention and hard work made the difference.

Sunderland got the first points on the board from a penalty when Butcher was offside. But we came back after we mauled our way into the home 22,  and when the ball was moved quickly right Owen Westhorp powered his way to the corner (pictured) with Sam Heron missing the con  as he tried to get to grips with the wind.

Hopes that that try would set a pattern for West were dashed as the Sunderland pack asserted themselves. They set up a try for the right winger, and then  a penalty for not rolling away to give themslves a six point lead.

Our task into the wind was made a little harder when Lewis Scott was yellow carded five minutes before the break.  Heron had dealt with a kick into our 22 but was injured as a tackler slid in and kneeing him in the head while he was on the deck. Penalty to West, but that was reversed as an indignant Scott bounced the ball off the offending players' head,  and was duly sent to the bin.

Sunderland stayed in our 22 and got the benefit as they worked the ball out to go over to give themselves an 18-5 lead at the break.

We had the breeze and the sun at our backs in the second half and quickly set about reducing the arrears. Scott Butcher made a great break from a line-out but was stopped just short with Hadwen pounding up in support. Unfortunately, "Crazy Craig" couldn't collect cleanly and knocked on.

However, we were back five minutes later with Sam Heron going over (above) as patient handling stretched the home defence - 18-12.

We were looking the most likely, however Sunderland rolled their sleeves up and took advanatge of two more penalties for not  rolling away to give themselves a nine point lead. 

The arrears were reduced with 15 minutes to go after we opted to take a tap penalty in front of the posts - Matt Siddle's long pass sending Lewis Scott in at the corner but again just too far out for Sam.

Two minutes later the speedy left winger looked like he might be in again when Stu Waites - on for Jake Tennant - sent him racing clear from the half-way line only for  the pass to be ruled forward.

The game was still very much in the balance but tipped in favour of the home side when Liam Bailey was yellow carded as the Sunderland pack mauled their way towards our line. Penalty try awarded.

Sunderland were now 11 points ahead with eight minutes to go. Could we repeat the heroics of last week? It looked like we might when Scott was again in action this time  charging down a kick and winning the race to the ball. Heron added a great conversion to take us to 28-24.

However, this week the opposition held out with Sunderland almost adding to their score with a penalty which was just wide.

Sunderland: Ben Hutchinson, Michael Walton, Adam Barrass, Tom Atkinson, Adam Stormont, Marc Edmundson, Alex Tuckwell, Kieron Hanlon, Edward Simpson, Mason Burnett, Luke Bryan-Victory, Jake Belfield, Michael Holder, Paul Gregson, Martin Watt.

Changes: Peter Harrison, Andrew Wordsworth, Oliver Beattie.

West: Sam Heron, Owen Westhorp, Jake Tennant, Ollie Connnolly, Lewis Scott, Matt Siddle, Ryan Painter (capt), Adam Coates, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Tim Blades, Craig Hadwen, James Tyers, Liam Bailey, Scott Butcher, Chris Atkins.

Changes: Stu Waites, Tom Robertson

Tries: Scott (2), Westhorp, Heron.

Cons: Heron (2)