Please don't try this at home! Davy Heckles and Sam Heron celebrate

On the Mersey flood plain in South Manchester,  West came up against a hard tackling and well organised home side, but went through to this week's draw courtesy of three superb tries from the backs.

It was the inaugural game in the Papa Johns Community Cup - a step into the unknown for both sides who were missing a few regulars. West brought in Durham Under 20's hooker Louis Anderson for only his second game with Aidan Jackson-Smith away.   Ollie Webster and Will Corbett were in the second row with line-out specialist Jake Linighan unable to travel. Top scorer  Max Tennant was also unavailable with Lewis Scott starting and creating his side's first try.

However, it was an experienced Didsbury who got the first score on the board. A penalty kick to the corner saw scrum half James Peacock go over from close range wth fly-half Josh Vize adding the extras.

West are used to conceding the first score and came back strongly - Jay Corbett and skipper Ryan Painter both stopped just short of the try line as the visitors mounted a concerted attack.

Jay Corbett had another chance to go over, but was judged to have knocked on in the tackle and Didsbury were finally able to relieve the pressure with a penalty at the resulting scrum.

When West did finally crack the home defence it came from open play. Lewis Scott coming off his right wing to burst through the middle. His long pass found fellow winger Will Hilditch who looked as though he might go all the way - instead choosing to draw full back Jack White to send the supporting Matt Siddle in with a clever reverse pass. Sam Herons' conversion attempt was just wide .

Will Corbett was the next to make inroads into the home defence with a speedy break from the half-way line.  Didsbury were able to clear, and they should have increased their lead on the half-hour as they made their way into the West 22. Ryan Painter was offside at the breakdown, but the penalty kick from just wide of the post was missed.

It was 7-5 Didsbury at the break. However, West's dominance in the scrum suggested better things to come with Jay Corbett a constant threat from No 8.

However, it was Didsbury who increased their lead just three minutes after the restart. Right winger Kyle Stevenson evading two tacklers and with pacy Jack White on his inside shoulder timing his pass to send the full back over to set up an easy conversion.

West were dealt another blow with Jay Corbett going off with an arm injury - Alex Barker coming on with Chris Atkins going to Number 8. With Barker in determined mood in the loose West maintained the pressure on the opposition pack,  with Ollie Webster looking like he might get his first try as he burst into the home 22 only to be brought back for an earlier knock on.

Minutes later the big second row had to limp off  - Tim Blades coming into the front row and the hard-working Adam Hutchinson taking Webster's place in the second row.

Both sides continued to put in the big tackles and it was testament to the excellent game management of referee Mark Hiney that such a hard fought game produced no yellow cards.

For once West opted to kick penalties rather than go for the line-out in the corner. Heron's first successful attempt coming after Didsbury were offside some 30 metres out. Three minutes later Jack Angus's hard work in the home 22 saw them penalised for not rolling away.

At 14-11 the next score looked to be the most important of the afternoon and it went  to West in some style. The ball was won at the breakdown just outside the home 22 and was moved quickly left where Davy Heckles drew his man to send  Hilditch away. The winger had two defenders to beat but cut inside them to glide over. Heron's conversion giving his side the lead for the first time.

Jake Tennant replaced Lewis Scott with 15 minutes to go and was immediately in the action and demanding a crossfield kick from his skipper. It was taken by a Didsbury defender, but he was penalised for holding on and once again Heron added the points to give his side a 21-14 lead.

West continued to pressure the home line and Heron was just wide with a drop-goal attempt after Disbury hacked the ball away in their 22.

He wasn't to be denied for long as he took another kick some 35 metres out. The fly-half burst through the first tackle evading two more as he raced for the line with his conversion giving West a two score lead with ten minutes to go.

Didsbury weren't prepared to give up. They came back strongly with West able to keep them out until the final 90 seconds.

The visitors did manage to stop a forwards drive on their line and did snaffle the ball. However, in his eagerness to clear from behind the line Heron dropped the ball with a Didsbury hand the first to touch down.

Another converted try from the home side would have taken the tie into an unaccustomed extra time. However, West were able to hold on without causing too much stress for their considerable travelling support,  and go into the hat for the next round to be played on April 15th.

In the meantime the final league game, which could have been played at Darlington on Easter Saturday will not now go ahead.  Darlo have given West a walk-over which takes the final league record to Played 22, Won 22, Points 105.

Well done to all 34 players and coaches for a tremendous season. One which is by no means over.

Didsbury Toc H: Jack White, Kyle Stevenson, Rory Gibson, Jed Mawdsley, Calum Archibald, Josh Vize, James Peacock, Josh Hearn, Tom Talbot, Alex McLeish, James Howarth, Vincent Hughes, Jon Beardmore, Hamish Fawcett, Harry Rigby.

Reps (all used): Tom Goodwin, Tom Bunn, Cameron Oldershaw.

West: Matt Siddle, Lewis Scott, Davy Heckles, Ollie Connolly, Will Hilditch, Sam Heron, Ryan Painter (capt), Jack Angus, Louis Adamson, Asam Huthcvinson, Will Corbett, Ollie webster, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins, Jay Corbett.

Reps (all Used): Alex Barker, Tim Blades, Jake Tennant.

Tries: Siddle, Hilditch, Heron.

Cons: Heron (2)

Pens: Heron (3)

Referee: Mark Hiney (Manchester)