The visitors, strengthened by five overseas players, had run in comfortable 44-15 winners at Amethyst Park in September and had won four out of their last six league games.

And against a much-changed West side missing skipper Ryan Painter, line-out kingpin Jake Linighan and experienced backs Will Hilditch and Lewis Scott the visitors started strongly.

However, they came up against a home team which was prepared to tackle, tackle and tackle again. Connor McLurg led the way with some early hits and the storm was weathered.

It was no surprise when West went ahead on the quarter hour. Stand-in skipper Chris Atkins was immense all afternoon and when the No 8 broke from a scrum in his own half he found space to feed Jake Tennant. He timed his pass to send 17 year old Jacob Wood speeding away for his first league try on his full debut (above)..

Matt Siddle was just wide with the conversion but took his chance five minutes later with a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts as West continued to press.

Sidd was instrumental again as West increased their lead on the half-hour. From a scrum Max Tennant was called off his wing to divert the attention of the Consett defence allowing the fly-half to time his pass to send Ollie Connolly through gap to sprint his way to the posts (above).

At 15-0 Consett appeared shell-shocked and had no answer as West took their third opportunity just minutes later. The forwards attacked in the right corner with the ball eventually moved quickly left - Siddle once again the man to time a pass to perfection to send prop Liam Pennick steaming in under the posts (right). With Chris Atkins continuing to drive his team forward, Siddle took advantage of referee Adam Morrison’s outstretched arm for a penalty to try a drop goal from 25 metres - it sailed between the posts to give his side a 25-0 lead at the break.

Consett started the second half determined to get back in the game and were helped when West centre Jake Tennant was yellow carded. But it was West who increased their lead with Siddle slotting a penalty after Consett prop Oliver Smith was also despatched to the naughty corner.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard with ten minutes left with replacement prop Jack Beckwith going over from close range to set up an easy conversion.

That score didn’t stop West going for the bonus point try and it came in some style with five minutes left to play. Once again Atkins picked up from the base of a scrum drawing the tacklers to send Isaac Robinson heading into the 22. Izzy timing his pass to the speeding Connolly who evaded the tackles to go in beside the posts to give his side a 35-7 lead (left). For once West’s tackling then let them down as American winger Jacob Barry finished the scoring as he wove his way to the line. Siddle did have one last attempt to have the last word with another drop goal as Mr Morrison indicated a penalty was in the offing but this time he was wide.

The five points keeps West in ninth place but just one point behind Morpeth and  Stockton who they face at Grangefield next week. With only three home games left this season the aim now will be to build on this performance to start adding some away points as the former Academy players in the shape of scrum half Matty Baggs, prop Louis Adamson , winger Jacob Woods and full back Sam Knight continue their remarkable impact.

With so many changes in the first team the Stags travelled to Consett II's with just 12 players, and needing to borrow a few,  before going down 43-12.

West: Sam Knight, Jacob Wood, Jake Tennant, Ollie Connolly, Max Tennant, Matt Siddle, Matt Baggs, Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Ollie Webster, Will Corbett, Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins (capt).

Reps (all usedJ Ben Reed, Louis Adamson, Liam Liston.

Tries: Connolly (2), Wood, Pennick.

Cons: Siddle (3)

Pens: Siddle (2)

Drop Goal: Siddle

Yellow: Jake Tennant

Man of the Match: Chris Atkins

Consett: Jack O’Leary, Dan Patchcott, Kyle Cornelissen, Matt Varley, Asher Brandon-Wood, James Herdman, Rody Godsell, Oli Smith, Jack Yarrall, Cameron Holliday Dale Raine, Richard Tetley (capt), Ayden Knott, Brad Smith, Matt Grimes.

Reps (all used): Gareth Henderson, Jacob Barry, Jack Beckwith.

Tries: Beckwith, Barry.

Cons: Grimes (2).

Yellow : Smith.

Man of the Match: Patchcott

Referee: Adam Morrison (Durham Society).