Durham City eventually ran in five tries as their experience and muscle helped them take their chances when they got close to their line. West did have the edge in the set-piece – taking several scrums against the head – but came up against a well-organised defence whenever they looked to press an advantage.
West had the early chances to get the scoreboard ticking with City giving away penalties, which allowed Matt Siddle to kick for the corner, but their attacks were repelled. The best chance of a score looked to have come when Siddle sent Ollie Connolly through a gap and the centre raced through the middle with only full back Scott Rochester to beat and with Will Hilditch on his shoulder. Unfortunately, Ollie couldn’t get the ball away and he was penalised for holding on.
Almost inevitably City scored on their first real attack in the 17th minute. Burly centre Craig Dominick was the man to score as he finished off a well worked move by going in under the posts.
West came back and continued to force City into giving away penalties and opting for a scrum in the home 22 which saw Hilditch almost force his way over in the corner.
Winger Max Tennant was the next to try his luck with a run from the half-way line which saw him cutting inside. Unfortunately slipped on the greasy surface as he looked odds-on to score and worse was to come for his side as the clearing kick bounced into the path of Ben Speight. The lively City winger sprinted him from the half-way line and instead of being level West found themselves 14-0 down at the break.
They did get the try their effort deserved after the restart, with Speight in the bin for a high tackle, and it was the try of the game. Siddle started the move which saw the ball whipped out to Tennant who was able to feed Hilditch as he was tackled, and he in turn sent Jacob Wood racing home to score his third try in his three games.
Any hopes that West would kick on were quickly dashed when City worked their way back up field with No 8 Peter Dnt going over from close range - kicker Paul Armstrong just wide with the conversion.
Sam Knight was the next West teenager to make a dazzling run - seemingly to sidestep most of the City side before he was stopped just outside the home 22.
Ten minutes later the game was effectively put to bed as City once again found their way to the line with good support play from close range allowing prop Clem O’Rourke to finish with Armstrong adding the extras.
Worse was to come for West. Matt Siddle was red-carded for a dangerous tackle and City then adding their fifth with Speight evading the tackles to go in at the corner with Armstrong adding the conversion from the touchline.
West did have the last word as City prop Niall Pace was sent to the bin as his side continued to rack up the penalties. West skipper Chris Atkins opting for a scrum and it paid off as he picked up from the base to go over (above) - giving scrum-half Matt Baggs the opportunity to register his first points in league rugby with the successful conversion.
With Upper Eden gaining an unexpected victory at Aspatria and this defeat dropping West to eighth place, there's still points needing to be won. League leaders Percy Park are due up next week at Brinkburn.
Durham City: Scott Rochester, Ben Speight, Craig Dominick, James Coxon, Matt Quinn, Alex Garden, Paul Armstrong (captain), Niall Pace, Mark Davison, Clem O’Rourke, Howard Johnson, Kyle Wilson, Chris Metcalfe, Will Jewitt, Peter Dent.
Reps (all used); Kirton Hoppe, Andy Kirkup, Will Elliot.
Tries Speight (2), Dominick, Dent, O’Rourke.
Cons: Armstrong (4)
Yellow: Speight, Pace.
West: Sam Knight, Jacob Wood, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Max tenant, Matt Siddle, Matt Baggs, Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Ollie webster, Jake Linighan Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson , Chris Atkins (capt).
Reps (all used): Louis Adamson, Lewis Scott, Luke Bage.
Tries: Wood, Atkins.
Con: Siddle, Baggs
Red: Siddle.