Both sides were missing several regular backs with a contingent of West players enjoying a weekend break in Cumbria with their girlfriends. As a result Stu Waites was drafted back into the fly half berth he has occupied with such distinction. Sadly, it was not to last long.

Stu looked sharp and made several linebreaks as West started strongly, spurning two attempts at converting penalties for the kick to the corner option, which both came to nought.

The pressure was maintained and the fly-half again broke through fromthe 22. He looked a possible scorer until a head on challenge saw him lying prone on the turf some ten metres from the line. Stu was eventually led dazed from the field - fortunately making a recovery to add his vocal support from the touchline throughout the game. 

 Matt Siddle moved up to fly-half and Connor Allen coming on in the centre with Sam Heron at full back. Matt's first contibution was to tap the resulting penalty with quick ball along the line sending Max Tennant in at the corner to finally get the scoreboard ticking. Unfortunately, Heron's conversion was just wide.

Acklam had defended expertly,  and finally got into the West 22 on the 20 minute mark where the presssure  was relieved with a penalty. However, they did score on their next foray into the West half with a break up the left wing finished by winger PJ Fincken-Hayes to level the scores.

Two minutes later they went ahead after Alex Barker was penalised for not rolling away. The penalty kick set up a succesful catch and drive with Dan Ashton adding the extras.

Back came with West to force another  kickable penalty. Once again the kick to the corner option was taken and once again it was thwarted as West were penalised as they started their own catch and drive.

There was a repeat a minute later, but this time it did lead to a West try as Acklam attacked with Sam Heron intercepting just inside the home half to race to the corner. He then added an excellent conversion to make it 12-12 at the break.

Conscious that they'd left a few points on the pitch in the first half,  West were more sprightly after the break and went ahead in slightly unusual circumstances. Referee Chris Green's arm went out to indicate a penalty as Acklam defended against quick ball from a ruck, and with play continuing Max Tennant went in at the corner

However, the try wasn't given. A home prop had been injured as he tried to stop Tennant, with both sets of forwards looking like the were lining up for a scrum while he was treated, and then replaced.

As supporters wondered whose put-in it would be Mr Green resumed play by marching between the posts to award a penalty try to West - ruling that the original offence had been a deliberate knock-on. However, there was no yellow card for the offender.

West continued the pressure without looking likely to add to their score. It was a game where both sides lost the ball at the breakdown, and where Acklam's returning No 8 Paddy O'Brien proved remarkably adept at winning restarts and ripping the ball in the tackle.

His side had not been able to make much use of the slope or the breeze in the second half,  but did get back in the game with a rare attack after 65 minutes with winger Dean Roberts going in at the corner after prressure down the right wing.

The conversion was missed, but with West's lead reduced to just two points it set up a tense finale, which had looked unlikely in the early stages of the game.

Acklam were keen to seize their chance but were short with a 30 metre penalty attempt, and then a promising attack was penalised for crossing.

That allowed West to regain territory and this time they wisely opted for a shot at goal as pressure eventually forced another penalty just outside the 22. Heron's attempt looked good. A touch judge's flag was raised and Mr Green blew his whistle to signal the end of the game. Only afterwards did it emerge that the other touch judge, and indeed backed up by honest Heron himself, said the kick as just wide so the referee had chalked it off.

Regardless, the win went West's way albeit another close shave. Close rivals Sunderland are now 12 points behind after their game at Darlington ended prematurely after the referee was injured and couldn't continue. The home side were leading by 20 points at the time, but the game now has to be replayed.

An unusual day, all round with the Stags home against Acklam called off as the visitors were only able to raise 11 players.

Acklam: Jacob Swan,  PJ Fincken-Hayes, Shaun Potgieter, Miquel Tomas, Dean Roberts, Dan Ashton, Theo Ellis, Jordan Rae, Ben Pearson (capt), Connor Mitchell, Tom Francis, Tim Savage, Andrew Dalton, Lewis Mace, Paddy O'Brien.

Replacements (all used); Michael Savage, Jon Baines, Riley McPhillips.

Tries: Fincken-Hayes,Pearson, Roberts.

Con: Ashton.

Man of the Match: O'Brien.

West: Matt Siddle, Will Hilditch, Sam Heron, Davy Heckles, Max Tennant, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter (capt),  Jack Angus, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Jake Linighan, Tom Robertson, Alex Barker, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett.

Replacements (all used): Andy Turner, Connor Allen, Alex Johnson.

Tries: Tennant, Heron, pen try.

Conversion : Heron (1)

Man of the Match: Jay Corbett.

Referee: Chris Green (Yorkshire).