The three points gained could prove valuable at the end of season for West, while the two points lost for Boro will leave them wondering why they didn’t press home their advantage when they had the opportunities.

The home sides’ preparations were once again disrupted as powerhouse second row Will Corbett and experienced prop Jack Angus both succumbed to chest infections. In came Liam Liston for his first team debut in the back row with Luke Bage and Tim Blades coming onto the bench.

There was also yet another centre combination with Kyle Jamieson making his first league start of the season alongside Matt Siddle.

Middlesbrough went into an early lead from a penalty in front of the posts, after a clearing kick from Ollie Connolly bounced off one of his own players who was in front of the kick.

The visitors went further ahead when they opted for a scrum instead of a penalty shot at goal  - with the new West pack going backwards back row Adam Marron powering over with Brendan Hill’s conversion attempt wide.

Back came West with Liam Pennick making ground outside the visiting 22 before offloading to Isaac Robinson. His pass found Ollie Connolly in determined mood and he weaved his way towards the posts before being brought down. However, skipper Ryan Painter was in support to collect and dive over to set up an easy conversion for Siddle.

Honours continued to be even, but West were dealt a blow when winger Scott went to intercept just inside his own half. In the last home against Durham City he scored two scorching tries from similar attempts,  but as he juggled the ball it went forward and his reward this time was a yellow card.

However, West continued to give as good as they got and five minutes later it was Middlesbrough who were also down to 14 men. Kyle Jamieson intelligently intercepted the ball in his own half and made ground before finding Liam Liston on his shoulder. He took the attack on only for his introduction to league rugby being rudely welcomed by a high-flying tackle from flanker Ali Lang,  who was yellow carded.

West's unusually lightweight pack was struggling in the scrum with Connor McLurg doing a valiant job of clearing from the base. As a result, his side were continuing to give as good as they got and earned their reward when Middlesbrough were penalised for not releasing in their own 22 - Siddle taking the score to 10-8 with five minutes left of the half.

Unfortunately, that was enough time for Middlesbrough’s powerful centre, and Man of the Match, Aedan Moloney to seize his chance and burst through from 20 metres with Hill giving his side a five-point lead.

West did come back from the restart and spurned several opportunities to add to their own score. Instead of a penalty shot at goal they opted for the kick to the corner. Jake Linighan took good ball and the West forwards battered the Boro line forcing another penalty which gave Connolly the opportunity for a “free go” and he sent in a kick for Max Tennant which saw the winger bundled into touch.

West again spurned the opportunity for a shot at the posts  - this time opting for a tap and go which led to quick ball along the backs again creating space for Tennant on the left wing. He collected a long pass from Siddle to go over,  but the pass was forward leaving West to go in behind at the break.

Middlesbrough started the second half in determined mood with their backs looking dangerous whenever they got the ball. They looked to have scored in the left corner, but the ball was dropped over the line giving West a goal-line drop out.

However, two minutes later West couldn’t keep out winger Matt Marsay who started his run wide on the right before cutting inside two despairing tackles to set up an easy conversion.

The visitors kept up the pressure but had to wait until the hour mark for their bonus point try. Centre Moloney again proving too strong for the West defence as he seized his chance to collect and go over in the left corner with Hill adding the extras with an excellent kick from out wide.

With the score at 10-29  the feeling was that Middlesbrough might be set for a big win,  but West skipper Ryan Painter wasn’t in the mood to let that happen. Aided by Ollie Connolly and Matt Siddle he led the way in taking the game to Boro.

Tennant was stopped just short of the try-line and had to receive treatment after being trampled as the Boro defenders swarmed over him. Then a concerted pick and go attack came to nothing when West eventually knocked on.

Both West wingers were looking dangerous whenever they were brought into play with Scott bundled into touch as he went for the line. However, he finally got on the scoresheet after 70 minutes when Siddle seized on a penalty advantage to send a kick into the corner where Scott was quickest to touchdown as the ball bounced awkwardly. Zac Southern, on at full back for Sam Knight who’d picked up a knock, took over kicking duties and took the score to 17-29.

With skipper Painter leading from the front West kept up their pressure against an increasingly tired looking Middlesbrough. Together with Connolly and Siddle no opportunity was lost in running hard at the visiting defence.

The reward came when good line-out ball on the right wing saw the ball moved out wide to the left where Tennant again beat the first man but was wrapped up close to the line. The ball was quickly recycled and Siddle spotted his chance to go over. Southern’s conversion was wide but at 22-29 West looked to be in possession of a losing bonus point which had looked unlikely early in the second half.

That wasn’t good enough for a resurgent home side. Tennant was bundled into touch in the corner after collecting another crossfield kick from Painter and it looked like that might be West’s last chance.

However, it was Scott on the opposite wing who finally beat Boro’s cover out wide. He took the ball ten metres from the line and had enough space to build-up some speed as he headed for the line where he was tackled in the air as he dived for the corner. He had obviously been watching some of the better tries in the World Cup as he managed to both touch down just inside the flag and keep his feet in the air. Time was up. The score was 27-29 and West had two bonus points in the bag. Could Southern end the game with a touchline conversion to make it three points each? Boro were anxious to stop him and charged the kick before he had moved. Undaunted, his kick from the touchline (right) sailed between the posts and there was no need for a nervy retake.

The three points keeps West in ninth place in the league with some tricky games to come. Unfortunately some confiuson over the Stags friendly with Boro Wasps led to the latter not travelling.

West: Sam Knight, Lewis Scott, Matt Siddle, Kyle Jamieson, Max Tennant, Ollie Connolly, Ryan Painter (captain), Adam Hutchinson, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Liam Pennick, Ollie Webster, Jake Linighan, Liam Liston, Isaac Robinson, Connor McLurg.

Reps (all used): Tim Blades, Zac Southern, Luke Bage.

Tries: Scott (2), Painter, Siddle.

Cons: Siddle, Southern (2)

Pens: Siddle.

Yellow: Scott.

Man of the Match: Ryan Painter.

 Middlesbrough: Brendan Hill, Matt Marsay, Jack McPhillips, Aedan Maloney. Will Deeks, Shay Barritt, Chris Lord, Josh Lynas, Steven Hoare, Scott Taylor, Myles Colven, Will Magowan, Ali Lang, Rohan Brown, Adam Marron.

Tries: Marron, McPhillips (2), Marsay.

Cons: Hill (3)

Pen: Hill.

Yellow: Lang.

Man of the Match: Aedan Moloney.

Referee: Matthew Seagar Rooke (Durham)