The Tynesiders are another Durham and Northumberland side who like to throw  the ball around and they started strongly.

It was another occasion when the faithful were waiting to see which West side had turned up. Fortunately, it was the one which had the forwards eager for the ball and, once the early pressure had been rebuffed, it was a notable first try for Craig Hadwen which got things going.

Craig, 40 in a month's time, has been close to scoring several times since his elevation to the first team. His try was scored in some style as skipper Painter went for a gap, and when he was stopped Craig was there to receive and weave his way through two defenders.

Sam Heron had brought his kicking boots and got his first on a day when the strong breeze was coming in from the North East.  Warm in the shelter of the clubhouse - nippy everywhere else.

West kept up the pressure but had to wait until the 20 minute mark for the second try - a penalty to the corner setting up the chance for Adam Brown to force his way over from close range.

Not to be outdone Ponteland took the chance to set up their own line-out from a penalty on the half way line. It saw second row Stewart Benjamin unstoppable with kicker Owen Reed well wide as he kicked into the wind.

Sam Heron was lively as a the stand-in for Matt Siddle and he took the score to 21-5 with a try and conversion. Some enterprising play from Ollie Connolly and Painter opening up the  home defence.

Just two minutes later Sam was instrumental in one our best tries of the season as quick ball eventually opened up the visitor's defence. A superb ball out to the left wing finding Jake Linighan in unaccustomed territory. Undettered, he received to go over in the corner for the try bonus point with Sam adding the extras. 28-5 at the break.

Adam Brown had tweaked his troublesome shoulder in the first half with Liam Pennick making a welcome return after the break for his first game of the season - becoming our 43rd player  in the process.

The momentum was maintained with Ryan Painter in top form, and it was Aidan Jackson-Smith who benefitted as he scored our fifth try. His support play has been excellent in recent weeks and he finally got his reward  - receiving from Roo some 15 metres out and speeding his way under the posts to set up the easy conversion.

Unfortunately, Alex Barker then blotted the day's copybook as he went to charge down a clearing kick from Ponteland's Dan Carruthers. He was late - receiving  a red card as the scrum half picked himself up.

The numbers were temporarily even with Ponteland flanker Ben Wallace sin-binned for a deliberate knock on.

However, his side did reduce the arrears on his return with winger Joe Greenwell getting on the end of a grubber kick to race round behind the posts.

With 15 minutes left a Ponteland revival looked unlikely,  despite the numerical advantage, and so it proved with Hilditch making a darting run as he cut inside on the left. Jackson-Smith almost got over as he powered up in support, but there was no stopping Painter as he collected from the base of the ruck with Sam taking the score to 40-12.

With young Matthew Smart on for Owen Westhorp, to become the 44th player to the wear the first team shirt (player stats),  the 14 men kept atttacking with Jake Linighan getting his second. It came after another penalty kick to the corner gave him the platform to score from close range.

West games nearly always end with the final whistle coming after a score and it was Ponteland who got it as they pressured our line.

The five points takes us above Rovers into sixth place with four games to go. It also closed the gap on Aspatria whose under strength side was hammered 66-17 at Percy Park, who finally took over the top spot from Northern. League table.

Another home game next week against Rockcliff and still 20 points to play for.

West: Zac Southern, Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Olli Connolly, Owen Westhorp, Sam Heron, Ryan Painter (capt), Craig Hadwen, Aidan-Jackson-Smith, Adam Brown, Jake Linighan, Tom Robertson, Chris Atkins, Alex Barker, Andy Turner.

Reps (all used): Ollie Webster, Liam Pennick, Matthew Smart

Tries: Hadwen, Linighan (2), Painter, Brown, Heron, Jackson-Smith.

Cons: Heron (6).

Red: Barker.

Ponteland: Ewan Cassidy, Joe Greenwell, Patrick Holliday, Owen Reed, Chris Searle, John McConnell, Dan Carruthers, Josh Stoker, Austin Anderson, Stu Browne, Ben Stewart, Connor Beswick, Ben Wallace, Owen Gallagher, Josh Pratt.

Reps (all used); Jack Spells, James Croney, Stuart Avis.

Yellow: Wallace.

Referee: Louis Dinsdale ( Durham Society).