With quite a few of their more experienced players returning to the pack Rovers had obviously worked on their line-out but West were stronger in the scrum and, after giving away too many penalties  in the first half, the breakdown proved to be fruitful for the visitors.

With the gusty wind at their backs Rovers made a great start. Sam Heron knocked on as he went to collect a high kick and his dive over the loose ball resulted in a quickly taken penalty which saw second row Joe Little power over to give his side a 5-0 lead.

That was quickly increased to 8-0 thanks to a penalty made easier by a "not ten" tackle.

Undaunted, Will Hilidtch set up the try of the game collecting a kick in his own half and setting off on a speedy diagonal run. Lewis Scott was intothe line from full back and the extra man allowed him to kick through for Davy Heckles, skipper in the absence of Ryan Painter, to collect and send Max Tennant in at the corner.

Sam Heron's conversion attempt  was wide but helped him get the measure of the wind which played a big part in the next score. Daz Fawcett cleared from his own half but was judged to have been  the victim of a late tackle by Jay Corbett. Carried by the wind the ball bounced in the West 22 giving the Rovers man an easy shot at the three points.

End to end stuff at this stage and  it was Tennant who popped up to give West the lead for the first time. Jake Linighan took his line-out ball in the right hand corner with Matt Siddle quickly spotting an overlap out on the left. His crossfield kick picked put Max who gratefully touched down with Heron adding an excellent conversion.

That one point lead didn't last long as a massive hole appeared in the West midfield allowing centre Jack Gunn to cruise in under the posts.  18-12 to Rovers.

However, the home side was beginning to infringe as the pressure mounted -hooker Shane Jeffery taking a sin-binning for the team as he failed to roll-away after Tennant had made a sharp break up his wing.

West took advantage with Jay Corbett finishing off a catch and drive to reduce Rovers' lead to just one point.

The visitors would have been happy with that score at the break but better was to come. Lewis Scott again came into the line to make the extra man and this time he didn't need to pass it out wide as went over in the corner. He picked up a knock in doing so, but was able to resume in the second half after giving his side the bonus point try and a 22-18 lead.

Alex Barker had been all over the park in the first half  - including getting on the end of most restarts  - and he got his just deserts in the first two minutes  of the second half.

A penalty kick set up the catch and drive which was reppelled by Rovers. The ball went left with Siddle and Corbett both making runs for the line as they stretched the home defence. Barker was lurking out on the right and he received quick ball to crash over with another fine Heron conversion giving West a comfortable looking 11 point lead.

In the first three league ganes West hadn't taken any penalty posts aimed atthe posts. However,  Hecklesl asked Heron slot the first  to put his side two scorfed ahead

That lead was reduced on the hour as the home pack forced  Railton over in the right corner with Fawcett also showing he could kick from out wide and into the wind.

However, that proved to be the last of the home scores. Heron slotted huis soednd penalty of the season after knocking-on on the half way line as he made a break. Refeee Matt Arrowsmith taking exception to a bit of afters on the West scrum half who needed attention to a leg injury before cooly slotting the long range pen.

West continued to press with quick ball along the line seeing Jay Corbett go over only for the Ref to spot some crossing and it was chalked off.

There was time for the usual last minute score and it came from a West scrum in the middle  of the pitch. Quick ball out right to Heckles who sent in the speedy Scott from the 22 with Heron's unsuccessful kick ending the proceeings.

Entertaining stuff with Rovers unluckly not to get a bonus point for their well organised efforts. Another derby next week as struggling Peterlee and Horden visit Brinkburn.

Rovers: Michael Railton, Ryan Harrison, Liam Austwicke, Jack Gunn, Curtis Ross, Darryl Fawcett, Steven Barnfield (capt), Ian Pinchen, Shane Jeffery, Ian Flounders Joe Little, Patrick O'Callaghan, Tyrone Church, Dan Charters, Andrew Dring.

Changes (all used); Tony Ross, Kieran Wright, William Lloyd.

Tries: Little, Gunn, Railton

Cons: Fawcett (2)

Pens: Fawcett (2)

Yellow: Jeffery

West: Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Davy Heckles (capt), Ollie Connolly, Max Tennant, Matt Siddle, Sam Heron, Jack Angus, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Coates, Jake Linighan, Michael Hogan, Isaac Robinson, Alex Barker, Jay Corbett.

Chaneds ( all used: Adam Hutchinson, Jordan Baggs, Will Corbett.

Tries: Tennant (2), Scott (2), Heckles, Jay Corbett.

Cons: Heron (2)

Pens: Heron (2)

Referee: Matt Arrowsmith (Durham Society).