The scrum in front of the posts looked to be the perfect opportunity to win the game, and it seemed like every pack member had a go at forcing their way over only to be met with some resolute Northumbrian muscle. When the option to spin the ball out was finally taken it, unfortunately, went to ground, and from the scrum Morpeth were able to kick to touch to end the game.

The visitors arrived having finished runners-up in Regional 2 North last season and unbeaten so far in this campaign. They promptly gave West a lesson in how poor kicks or passes are punished at this level.

With the strong breeze at their backs, West made the early running - a kick through from skipper Ryan Painter just going dead before Chris Atkins and Max Tennant could reach it.

They did go ahead when referee Revis Phillips penalised Morpeth in the centre of the field and then awarding an extra ten metres for backchat - Davy Heckles slotting the penalty.

However, the restart gave Morpeth their first real foray into home territory. West did secure the kick, with Will Hilditch receiving in his own 22 and willing to run at the opposition. Unfortunately, his pass to Davy Heckles was intercepted by Morpeth centre Sam Hornby, who had an easy task in going under the posts to set up an simple conversion for brother Ben. The fly-half then increased the Morpeth lead to seven points with a penalty on the 20-minute mark.

West came back with Atkins and Liam Pennick combining to send Lewis Scott away up the right wing. He opted to kick ahead and beat full back Kieran Smith to the ball. However, the Morpeth player took a kick to the head as he dived for the ball and had to leave the field.

The resulting scrum went to West with Jay Corbett breaking from the base and finding Painter in support. His chip to the corner was chased again by Scott - he couldn't gather but the knock back was collected by Pennick, who'd raced up in support, and he crashed over (above). Heckles converted from wide out on the right to give his side a 13-10 lead.

The pressure on the visiting 22 continued and West increased their lead with another astute kick through. Man of the Match Pennick was again in the action as he was first to react to a loose ball.  He quickly brought Aidan Jackson-Smith and Isaac Robinson into play. It was Robinson's kick to the corner which gave Scott another chance to show his pace, and footballing skills, as he tapped the ball over the line to touchdown. Facing the wind in the second half it was doubtful that the 18-10 lead would be enough. Morpeth starting the second half in some style only to come up against some tremendous tackling from the home side with full back Sam Knight leading the way. He stopped one certain try when the force of his tackle dislodged the ball as it was about to be touched down. Then he almost stopped Morpeth's second try as he smashed the attacker against the post protector - this time the touchdown by No.8 Elliott Clark was good to take the score to 18-17.

West battled their way into the wind and the game with a well worked try up the left wing. Jay Corbett led the way with a bullocking run with Painter stopped as he went for the line followed by a similar attempt from Will Corbett. However, with the Morpeth defence stretched, Painter whipped the ball out to Max Tennant who stepped inside to score - it was just too wide for Heckles to add the extras.

Morpeth came back and West went down to 14 men as Scott was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on as the visiting backs attacked up the left wing. The penalty taking the score to 23-20 with all still to play for.

They kept the pressure on the home defence and when a clearance kick went straight down the middle it was run back with interest. Missed tackles allowing Ben Hornby to break through the middle to set up what proved to be the winning try and conversion.

The last ten minutes saw West desperate for that winning and ultimately elusive try. It was also close at the New Friarage where Rover Heughers ran out 17-15 winners against the Stags.

West: Sam Knight, Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Davy Heckles, Max Tennant, Matt Siddle, Ryan Painter (capt), Jack Angus, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Liam Pennick, Will Corbett, Ollie Webster, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins, Jay Corbett.

Reps (Used): Tim Blades, Charlie Kay. Not used: Matt Baggs.

Tries: Pennick, Scott, Tennant.

Con:: Heckles

Pen: Heckles (2)

Yellow: Scott.

MoM: Pennick

Morpeth: Kieran Smith, Nathan Arkle, Simon Manley, Sam Hornby, James Turner,  Ben Hornby, Jack Elliott (capt), Huseyin Yilmaz, Ian Grieve, Carl Hill, Ian Burnham, Chris Johnstone, Cabe Whitfield, Craig Donnelly, Elliott Clark.

Reps (all used): Miles Gavaghan, Ben Gascoigne, Anthony Moody.

Tries: Sam Hornby, Manley, Clark:

Cons: Ben Hornby (3)

Pens: Ben Hornby (2)

Referee: Revis Phillips (Durham Society).