Both Boro and West went into the game after encouraging pre-season games,  with the hosts confident after beating Blaydon from the league above the previous week.

Both had players returning from a higher level - prop Andrew Rollins (Huddersfield) and centre Peter Youll (Billingham) for West and scrum half Conner Foley (Billingham ) and No.8 Ollie Hodgson (Darlington Mowden Park ) for Middlesbrough. In the match programme the latter said the toughest opponent he'd played against was Maro Itoje, but Alex Barker, also playing in the unaccustomed role at No 8 for West, gave him his most recent difficult game.

Barker more than played his part in an 18-man performance for West who, it was widely agreed, should have won by a bigger margin. Camped in the home 22 for the first 25 minutes of the second half, they failed to add to their half-time score  and so had to endure a nervous last few minutes after the hosts narrowed the margin to just two points.

The game had started at a fast pace. Both sides making use of a flat dry surface and a sunny afternoon to play some attractive rugby with Boro getting on the score sheet first courtesy of a penalty from winger Brendan Hill.

That was the cue for West to mount their first real attacks. Both skipper Ryan Painter and centre Ollie Connolly had the home defence on the back foot - forcing several penalties. However, the kick to the corner resulted in an overthrow at the line-out which Middlesbrough gratefully cleared.

That became a pattern for the afternoon, with West’s line-out solid until white line fever hit the forwards whenever they were awarded a line-out in the home 22. Fortunately, they had a scrum advantage for most of the afternoon.

It was that power in the pack which brought the first try after 25 minutes. Max Tennant was almost in at the left corner and took a kick to the head after he was tackled requiring a few minutes' treatment.

That gave the West forwards the chance to regroup and this time the penalty line-out was won. Jake Linighan was the man to touchdown as the pack mauled their way over the line - just too wide for Matt Siddle’s conversion attempt.

West kept up the pressure with Boro increasingly infringing,  which resulted in winger Brendan Hill being yellow-carded on the half hour.

West stepped up another gear and looked to have scored on the opposite wing when a slick backs move saw Peter Youll send the enterprising Sam Knight clear (above). However, referee Andy Williamson ruled there had been a forward pass.

West were not to be denied and it was Tennant who got the second just before the break. Youll and Connolly had again punched holes in the home defence and, when play broke down, Painter spotted Tennant in space on his wing and found him with a long pass. The winger still had two defenders to contend with but did so in style. This time Siddle was able to add the extras.

Boro came back with player-coach Hodgson making a break into the West 22. He was tackled short of the line and there was a big let-off for West as the ball was spun out to the left with Harry Bryce looking certain to score. Once again the referee blowing up for a forward pass.

Losing 12-3, but encouraged by that last attack, the home supporters were expecting their side to come out with all guns blazing after the break. However, it was West who kept possession and kept plugging away on the home line.

They kicked two penalties to the corner, instead of taking a shot at the posts, and did force their way over only for Mr Williamson to rule that the player had been held up.

Boro suffered their second yellow card on the hour - Aedan Moloney being penalised for a high tackle on Tennant who’d tore at the home defence after taking a cross kick from fly-half Siddle.

Both Painter and replacement Connor McLurg looked to have broken through the defence only for desperate defending to deny them – Clurgy paying for his efforts as he suffered an ankle injury in the tackle,

As the game entered the closing stages the home side were still in the game and mounted their first real pressure of the half.  Zac Southern, on at full-back for Sam Knight, put in a big tackle to stop Hodgson who was heading into the West 22 and Barker put in a tremendous clearing kick for his own 22.

However, Boro were able to set up a nervous last ten minutes when second row Adam Marron was able to force his way over from close range. Aedan Moloney adding the conversion.

West’s tackling and energy at the breakdown kept the Boro attack at bay,  with two penalties won at the breakdown and a knock-on on the left-wing ending Middlesbrough’s hope of snatching the win.

A fully deserved win achieved in a style which promises much for the rest of the season. Next up are Northern at Brinkburn – another much-fancied side and a game which will give an even clearer idea of what may lie ahead.

Middlesbrough: Matthew Marsay, Brendan Hill, Aedan Moloney, Peter Homan (capt), Harry Bryce, Shay Barritt, Conner Foley, Josh Lynas, Joe Sawdon, Myles Colvin, Henry Nyinguro, Adam Marron, Ali Lang, Rohan Brown, Ollie Hodgson.

Reps (all used); Sean Moloney, Steve Hoare, Joe McNeill.

Tries: Marron.

Con: A. Moloney.

Pen. Hill.

Yellow: Hill, A. Moloney.

West: Sam Knight, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Peter Youll, Max Tennant, Matt Siddle, Ryan Painter (capt), Adam Hutchinson, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Andrew Rollins, Will Corbett, Nick Bennions, Jake Linighan, Isaac Robinson, Alex Barker.

Reps (all used): Liam Pennick, Connor McLurg, Zac Southern

Tries: Linighan, Tennant.

Con: Siddle.

Referee: Andy Williamson (North Yorks).