Only one point was needed to ensure West would be champions of Counties 1 Durham and Northumberland - a fact not lost on Sam Heron as he broke away to score the bonus point try.

It was never easy against Rovers who had to call off the Heughers v Stags game because of a shortage of players, and who had to make a few team changes on the morning of the game.

The visitors started well only to go behind as West scored from their first attack - Jay Corbett crashing over after picking up and going on the blindside. It was just too wide for Heron to convert.

Michael Barnfield slotted a penalty for Rovers before we were treated to a rare thing - a try from Jake Linighan. The West line-out supremo has had a great season but had become increasingly frustrated by his lack of tries. He was back in the second row, after Will Corbett went off with a cut head, and promptly  broke his duck as the dominant West pack drove over the line

Rovers continued to give as good as they got until two quick tries gave West a 24-3 lead at the break. The first was a great team try as Jay Corbett broke clear with slick passing from Davy Heckles and Ollie Connolly forcing Rovers back on their line where Chris Atkins was able to collect and go over from close range.

Two minutes later Sam Heron intercepted just inside his own half and there was no stopping him on his sprint to the posts.

Wingers Hilditch and Tennant were looking dangerous whenever they got the ball and it was the latter who showed a lightning burst of pace to score the first try of the second half. It looked like a kick through would go over the dead ball line,  but Max wasn't prepared to give up the opportunity of his 16th try of the season.  Heron's conversion coming back off the post. Rovers got their consolation try on the hour when a couple of missed tackles in midfield allowed Michael Railton to skip through from 25 metres to go in under the posts. Ollie Connolly's tackling had once again been a feature of the game - he won't be affected by the new laws aimed at tackling low - but he showed his try scoring skills to get the final try (left). He took the pass from Heron on the Rovers 22  and a superb hand off set him on his way to the line with Sam adding the extras.

 Rovers, with the late Andrew Arnell's 17-year-old son Daniel making his derby debut in the final ten minutes, weren't prepared to lie down. They attacked strongly in with Connolly's game ending early as he was yellow carded as West gave away a string of penalties on their line. However, the home defence held out as the champagne corks popped.

Still three games to go and a determination to finish the league season unbeaten. And, for those who thought West's points difference meant they were home and dry before this game,  news that rivals Sunderland had closed that particular gap with a 113-5 hammering of Horden. That wasn't the biggest win of the day - in Regional One  Blackburn beat Kirby Lonsdale 190-0. 

West: Matt Siddle, Will Hilditch, Davy Heckles, Ollie Connolly, Max Tennant, Sam Heron, Ryan Painter (capt), Tim Blades, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Will Corbett, Ollie Webster, Jake Linighan, Chris Atkins Jay Corbett.

Reps (all used); Jake Tennant, Adam Coates, Isaac Robinson.

Tries: Corbett, Linighan, Atkins, Heron, Max Tennant, Connolly.
Cons: Heron (3)

Yellow: Connolly.

MoM: Jay Corbett

Rovers: Michael Railton, Ryan Harrison, James Keers, Michael Barnfield, Ian Coulson, Darryl Fawcett, Tyrone Church, Ian Flounders, Kevin Maguire, William Lloyd, Callum Whithead, Dylan Langley, Joe Little, Patrick O'Callaghan, Daniel Charters.

Reps (all used): Steven Gordon, Daniel Arnell, Liam Armstrong.

Tries: Railton

Con: Barnfield.

Pen: Barnfield

MoM: Whitehead.

Referee: James Burchell (Durham and Warwickshire Societies).

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