At Grangefield the first team ended an unenviable record of their own – the 24-15 win was the first away league victory of the season.

It was achieved on a very heavy pitch, and against opponents who were also missing a number of regular players. As a result, it was two youthful sides who ploughed their way through the mud.

The home side began as though they were playing in the middle of summer and quickly built up a 15-point lead before West had a sniff of the ball. Centre Steve Tampin got the scoreboard going with a 35-metre penalty before finishing off a sharp move down the right wing with his conversion attempt wide.

Three minutes later he had better luck as Stockton continued their slick handling - moving the ball across the backs for left winger Te-Kori Moore to go in.

Stockton had been scoring at the rate of a point a minute, but that was all to stop as West finally began to get some possession and the better of the set-pieces.

It looked like they might be back in the game just before the half hour when Isaac Robinson went over in the left corner (left)  only for the pass from Matt Siddle to be ruled forward – one of several spotted by Referee Shaun Cox on the day. However, that was the spur for West to mount concerted pressure in the home 22 with Stockton forced to give away a series of penalties which skipper Chris Atkins chose to go for the kick to the corner.

And he was the beneficiary as the Stockton defence was finally breached from the catch and drive. Siddle’s conversion was wide, but West were able to go into the break with only a ten-point deficit – something which had looked very unlikely in the first quarter of the game.

Stockton flanker Dom Ayre had been sin-binned just before the interval for a high-tackle on Max Tennant, and up against 14 men West began the second half in much the way that their hosts had started the first.

Atkins almost got on the end of his own chip kick but he wasn’t to be denied two minutes later as West were awarded yet another penalty in the home 22. Atkins opted for the scrum and the No. 8 was the man to touch down as his pack trundled over from ten metres with Siddle taking the score to 15-12. Stockton came back and looked to have increased their lead when right winger Joe Hargreaves went over but once again a forward pass ruled the score out.

Instead it was West who took the lead for the first time on the hour mark. Full back Sam Knight had come into the line wide on the left with fly-half Siddle looking to set him away with a cross kick. It wasn’t the best as it fell short, but Knight showed his footballing skills and speed to kick ahead and win the race to the touchdown (above) to take the score to 15-17.

Stockton came back with excellent West defence stopping them over the line to ease the pressure with a try-line drop-out.

Both sides slugged it out in the mud as they looked for a winning score and it came as tired legs saw Stockton’s backs drop the ball just inside their own half. Seventeen-year-old West winger Jacob Wood seized his chance to follow up on last week’s debut try. He was first to the loose ball and tore down the right wing (left)  - breaking one tackle and stepping inside the full back to run round behind the posts to give his side a try bonus point. The conversion denying Stockton a losing bonus point.

As a result, a West side with Chris Atkins the only player over 30 and three teenagers in the backs, leapfrogged both Stockton and Morpeth in the league.

The first away win also sets up next week’s trip to rock-bottom Cockermouth who have yet to win a league game.

Stockton: Harry Williams, Joe Hargreaves, Steve Tampin, Callum Piert, Te-Kori Moore, Ollie Shaw, Nic Winstanley, Lewis Gray, Harry Ewart, Rhys McHugh, Robin Webster, Henry Spence, James Leeds, Dam Ayre, Paul Evans.

Reps (all Used); Sean Jones, Dan Kidd, Josh Crozier.

Tries: Tampin, Moore.

Con: Tampin

Pen: Tampin

Yellow: Ayre.

West: Sam Knight, Jacob Wood, Jake Tennant, Ollie Connolly, Max Tennant, Matt Siddle, Matt Baggs, Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Josh Wilson, Ollie webster, Jake Linighan, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins (capt).

Reps (all used): Zac Southern, Jack Angus, Luke Bage.

 Tries: Atkins (2), Knight, Wood.

Cons: Siddle (2).

Referee: Shaun Cox (Durham Society),.