Northern arrived in second place in Regional 2 North and on this showing it very much looks like the competition with Percy Park for the promotion spot will go to the wire. On a greasy pitch their dynamic back row and slick handling won the day - West being able to take compensation from some excellent defence and being competitive in both the scrum and the line-out.
The home side once again fielded an unfamiliar looking back line with Zac Southern starting at fly-half for the unavailable Ollie Connolly, but with Max Tennant returning on the left wing and 18-year-old Sam Knight at full back.
West started well but were pegged back after Jay Corbett was penalised in the visiting 22. Chris Atkins, once again being asked to play in the centre, had to make a try-saving tackle in the corner before a confident Northern opted for a tap penalty in the West 22 on the quarter hour mark.
It paid off with flanker Alex Surrey able to power over with fly-half Jonny Dowell adding the extras.
Northern continued to command the territory but, thanks to West’s well-organised defence, they had to wait until the half-hour mark to increase their lead. Surrey going over in the corner with the conversion wide.
That lead was extended go 15 points with a successful penalty after West No.8 Jay Corbett was sin-binned for a high tackle
The home team were dealt a further blow when full back Sam Knight twisted a knee. Kyle Jamieson coming on, Matt Siddle moving to fly-half and Southern dropping to full-back.
Northern began the second half brightly but were thwarted when West were able to hold up an attacker up as he crossed the line - that was the cue for West to exert their first real pressure of the game.
Chris Akins was eventually the man to benefit after an spell of pressure on the visiting line -Southern timing a pass to perfection to send the inside centre crashing over to set-up an easy conversion.
With an hour gone, and just eight points behind, West were still very much in the game and they looked to be in with a chance when prop Kyle Blackmore was yellow carded. Withe the extra man advantage the forwards battered away in the left corner. However, when the option to move the ball wide was taken Max Tennant was penalised for holding on and Northern were able to clear.
With flanker Alex Surrey leading the way Northern continued to pose a threat but had to wait until West were down to 14 men to score two late-tries. Replacement prop Jack Angus was the man to go to the sin-bin after he reacted to a kick in the back of the legs.
From the penalty Northern attacked through the middle with centre Kyle Godsmark seizing his chance to evade two tackles as he powered his way to the line to take the score to 7-22.
As ever in a West game there was a score in the very last seconds. It came from replacement Cole Cartmell from close range to earn Northern a try bonus point.
It took the final scoreline to 7-29 - a little harsh on a hard working home side who dropped to 10th in the league and now face two big games against lowly Cumbrian opposition. Cockermouth away in two weeks’ time and Upper Eden at home the following week.
West: Sam Knight, Lewis Scott, Matt Siddle, Chris Atkins, Max Tennant, Zac Southern, Ryan Painter (capt), Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Ollie Webster, Jake Linighan, Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett.
Reps used: Jack Angus, Kyle Jamieson.
Tries: Atkins.
Con. Southern.
Yellow: Jay Corbett, Jack Angus.
Northern: Will Atkin, Ali Gray, Kyle Godsmark, Nathan Whitworth, Murray Brown, Jonny Dowell, Harvey Guthrie, Kyle Blackmore, Liam Mullick, Aaron Moslemi-Sefat, Sam Gaff, Josh Cotton, Alex Surrey, Dominic Warby, Rob Lenderyou.
Tres all used: Cole Cartmell, Jack Rendles, Theo Aubrey.
Tries: Surrey (2), Godsmark, Cartmell.
Cons: Dowell (3)
Pen: Dowell.
Yellow: Blackmore.
Referee: Lewis Lacey (Durham Society)>