At Brinkburn, after coming back from an unfortunate second minute try from flanker James Black where a knock-on from a line-out wasn’t spotted,  West were leading 26-25 with ten minutes to go and camped on the Percy Park line.  

With Park down to 14 men the pressure looked like it was about to produce a try in the scoreboard corner.  Instead,  the final pass was intercepted  and Park sped down their left wing. West winger Jacob Wood raced back to put in one big tackle on winger Toby Davison , but the support was there for scrum half Andrew Walker to go in under the posts for what was effectively the game -winning score.

It was a cruel blow for West who had fought back form that early contentious try to lead 19-12 at the break.

Adam Hutchinson got the home scoreboard kicking with a powerful finish, after West had built up lots of attacking phases in the Park 22,  and then they went ahead with an excellent team try up the right wing. Skipper Ryan Painter made the break, interchanging passes with hooker Aidan Jackson-Smith,  before Ollie Connolly was sent clear in the 22 to evade the full back with his conversion taking the score to 12-5. (right)

Park came back with a trademark catch and drive from a line-out courtesy of hooker Dan Shuttleworth to level the scores with West regaining their lead on 37 minutes.

 Once again the try came after patient build-up in the visitor’s 22. This time the ball was fired across the backs with Connolly sending Hilditch into space and his long pass finding Max  Tennant on the left wing who was able to dive in at the corner (above)

Connolly’s conversion from inside the touchline found its mark to give his side a seven-point lead.

Park came back and could have kicked a penalty from in front of the posts,  instead opting for a kick to the corner where the knock-on was penalised.

Desperate to keep their pole position intact Park came out strongly in the second half. But it  it was West who increased their lead through their skipper who also earned a try bonus point. There was no stopping Painter as he spotted a  gap some ten metres out , and he had enough time to head for the posts (above) to give Connolly the opportunity to increase the lead to 14 points.

Park weren’t prepared to lie down and reduced the arrears seven minutes later from yet another catch and drive -  hooker Shuttleworth unchallenged as he peeled off the maul. Full back Lucas Rowell added the extras,  which he followed with a successful penalty from in front of the post.

Park were enjoying their best spell of the game and reduced West’s lead to just one point with Rowell finishing off a slick move to go over in the right corner.

West came back and,  with No 8 Leo Caulfield in the bin, they built that pressure on the Park line which led to that game changing interception.

The home side was stunned and Park took advantage by scoring with some ease from the restart. The backs swept upfield with Rowell crossing to give his side a two-score lead with five minutes left.

That was enough time for West to get their fifth try of the afternoon. Connolly put in an astute grubber kick from just inside the Park half which was meant for left winger Tennant to chase. However, his run was unceremoniously blocked . Fortunately,  centre Will Hilditch had a clear run and he won the chase (left)  with Connolly ending the afternoon’s scoring with his conversion.

The two points keep West in eighth place some nine point clear of the second relegation place with six games to go.

West: Sam Knight, Jacob Wood, Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Max Tennant, Ollie Connolly, Ryan Painter (capt), Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Jake Linighan, Ollie Webster, Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins.

Reps (used); Charlie Kay, Jack Angus. Not used: Ben Reed.

Tries: Hutchinson, Connolly, Tennant, Painter , Hilditch.

Conversions: Connolly (4).

Man of the Match: Connolly

Percy Park: Lucas Rowell, Max Bailey, Ash Smith, Paul Spowart, Toby Davison, Fergus Simpson, Andrew Walker, Sam Digman, Dan Shuttleworth, Matthew Atkinson, Chris Reekie, Joe Thompson, James Black, Jonny Dubois (capt), Leo Caulfield.

Reps( all used); Tristan Grant, Luke Foster, Robin Houghton.

Tries: Black, Shuttleworth (2), Rowell (2) , Walker,.

Cons: Spowart (2)

Pen: Spowart

Yellow:Caulfield

Man of the Match: Rowell

Referee: Simon Barker (Cumbria)