Both sets of coaches had to make late changes meaning there weren’t enough players available to stage the Saracens v Stags CaNDY league game at Hollow Drift.

Confusion over whether this week was one of the rest weeks (it was last week) had led several players  to make other arrangements including Liam Pennick, Ollie Connolly and Max Tennant.

Davy Heckles was also unavailable as he decides whether to continue to commit to league rugby. Those who had admired Davy’s skill and fitness so far this season will hope a bit of a rest encourages him to see out the rest of this campaign. He would certainly have relished this game.

There was also a very late change with Kyle Jamieson succumbing to a chest injury in the warm-up. Jordan Painter had arrived ready to travel to Hollow Drift with the Stags, but took his boots home and was walking the dog when he was summoned back to take a place on the bench - Matty Baggs starting on the wing where he stayed all game. Replacement front row Louis Adamson was also a cry-off after an injury playing for his college during the week with Cameron Allison replacing him. Jay Corbett was also unavailable - Connor McClurg (right) coming in at No.8 after finally being able to commit to training. Clurgy went on to celebrate his 28th birthday with a Man of the Match performance.

 With all of that going on there was not too much optimism floating round Brinkburn at 2.55 p.m. The doubters were proved massively wrong as the lads resurrected the old West spirit -  simply getting on with the task of pushing the City scrum all over the pitch, with half a dozen taken against the head, and with a much-improved line-out.

City started well, but when their attack was thwarted West set up a series of attacks with skipper Ryan Painter almost going over from a tap and go. He then asked Zac Southern to get the scoreboard going taking three points from another penalty.

With the unlikely centre combination of Chris Atkins and Sam Knight was manfully putting in the tackles, City struggled to make any progress into the West half and it was little surprise when the home side went further ahead.

This time it was McLurg who put in a tremendous tackle just inside the City half with the result that the ball popped into the hands of winger Lewis Scott. He wasn’t going to be caught as he raced up the right and round behind the posts with Zac taking the score to 10-0.

City reduced the margin with a penalty from Paul Armstrong before concerted pressure on the City line saw West calmly wait for the chance to send Isaac Robinson over in the corner (above)  – a fitting reward for the flanker who was another candidate for Man of the Match.

The kick was missed but Zac had to wait only another five minutes before slotting another conversion from in front of the posts. It was that man Scott who intercepted again. This time taking advantage of a looping pass on the half-way line as City tried to throw the ball about to get back into the game.

It was 22-3 to West as half-time loomed only for that lead to be drastically reduced in the final two minutes of the half.

First right winger Matt Quinn finished off smartly in the corner, with the conversion wide. Then almost from the re-start burly City centre Craig Dominick finally evaded a tackle to send full back Scott Rochester in under the posts with the conversion ending the half.

At 22-15 the game had taken on a different complexion. However, West simply rolled up their sleeves and continued to take the game to their high-flying visitors after the break.

Unfortunately, Chris Atkins took a knock to the head on the 50-minute mark with Southern moving into the centre, Scott to full back and Jordan Painter coming off the bench and onto the right wing. That didn’t alter the shape of the game as the City scrum continued to go backwards at a rate of knots and that supremacy led to the next West score.

A penalty was kicked to the corner. Jake Linighan once again taking good line-out ball to set up the catch and drive. The West pack reaching the line where referee Adam Morrison was quick to award a penalty try and despatch hooker Owen Chaplin to the bin.

West were two scores ahead and looked to increase that lead with Ryan Painter just held up after his chip had set up a maul close to the City line.

However, that lead continued to look comfortable as the game reached the end of normal time. There was, however,  an added eight minutes mainly because of the lengthy treatment for Chris Atkins.

City made the most of it. Replacement Jack Moralee managed to go over in the corner to take the score to 29-20. Then a slip up in midfield from Zac Southern saw left winger Will Elliot seize on the opportunity to get his side’s fourth try with Armstrong reducing the arrears to just two points to earn two bonus points.

It led to a nervous last two minutes for West supporters, although seemingly not for the team as they calmly kept the ball in the City half to take a well-deserved five points.

West: Zac Southern, Lewis Scott, Sam Knight, Chris Atkins, Matt Baggs, Matt Siddle, Ryan Painter (capt), Jack Angus, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Ollie Webster, Will Corbett, Jake Linighan, Isaac Robinson, Connor McLurg.

Reps (all used): Jordan Painter, Cameron Alison, Jay Anderson.

Tries: Scott (2), Robinson , Pen. Try.

Conversions: Southern (2)

Penalty: Southern.

Man of the Match: McLurg

Durham City: Scott Rochester, Matthew Quinn, Nathan Bushnell, Craig Dominick, William Elliott, Alex Garden,, Paul, Armstrong, Andrew Kirkup, Owen Chaplin, Clement O’Rourke, Chris Metcalfe, Mark Davison, Rob Tomlinson, Will Jewitt, Howard Johnson.

Reps ( all used): Jack Moralee, Ben Speight, Matthew Mercer.

Tries: Quinn, Rochester, Moralee, Elliott.

Conversions: Armstrong (2)

Penalty: Armstrong.

Yellow: Chaplin.

Man of the Match: Dominick

Referee: Adam Morrison (Durham Society).