It wasn't the best start to a game for the West second team - arriving at City to discover the Academy shirts they'd brought by mistake didn't allow some of the forwards to actually breathe. Thanks to Tim Hilditch for rushing to Brinkburn to bring another set - hence the lads turning out in the pink Ladies Day charity strip.

There was also a few hasty call-ups with Jordan Painter and Josh Wilson already missing and Jay Anderson, Ben Lloyd  and Jacob Parker all becoming unavailable on the day.

Fortunately,  Zac Southern and Charlie Kay were both back from holidays and Ollie Webster volunteered to travel and duly doubling his season's tally with two tries.

Despite the poor preparation the Stags were quick off the blocks - enjoying an excellent first half at a pleasantly warm and sheltered Hollow Drift.

Superb handling repeatedly spread the home defence with hooker Liam Liston the first to benefit out on the left. Big Olliie was next to crash over after a similar move,  with Zac Southern struggling to shrug off the jet lag as he missed both conversions. It didn't seem to matter when Aaron Pike took a long pass from Will Hilditch on the 22. He finished smartly (left)up that same  wing to take the score to 15-0 after just 20 minutes.

It got even better when Webster got his second from close range with Zac's kick taking the score to 22-0 at the break.  Nick Bennions, who was once  again  impressing at No. 8,  had to come off with a shoulder injury, and with the usual changes  in the pack City found a way back into the game

They were helped a sudden plethora of penalties. However, the Stags defended well as City had the major share of the ball,  but only managing two unconverted tries to take the score to 22-10.

Martin Todd's side were further hampered when replacement front row Charlie Caswell was yellow carded for a minor altercation witb a big lad, more silk purses than handbags, but Charlie, who'd only been on for a couple of minutes, had to take a ten minute rest.  Greg Edwards was also carded for a more obvious offence when he blocked a City runner who'd chipped over his head.

Frustration continued to grow as decisions at the set-piece and breakdown meant the Stags were getting very little ball. But when they did Will Hilditch made the most of it   His first try coming as he  received wide on the left just inside the City half and, using Liam Larkin as a dummy runner, cruised to the corner.  Zac nailing an excellent conversion.

Hilditch's second was even better as he collected in his own half before accelerating and swerving through four defenders on his way to the touchline.