The hosts put up a strong defensive display while their energy at the breakdown had the visitors struggling to enforce their own game plan.
There was better luck for West’s two other sides - the Stags recording an excellent CaNDY league 59-23 win at Wensleydale and the third team, playing their first game for several years, overcoming Darlington III’s 44-0 at Brinkburn.
The Firsts did make a good start in Northumberland - keeping Morpeth in the clubhouse corner and with Jake Linighan unlucky to knock on as he went for the opening try.
But, when the attacks were repelled, it was Morpeth who took the lead with a penalty from 30 metres from full back Harvey Gillie.
They went further ahead on the 20-minute mark with a sharp backs move creating space for centre Callum Burgess. He was able to go in at the right corner with Gillie adding the touchline conversion.
Worse was to come for West five minutes later as they looked to attack from half-way. Unfortunately, the ball was dropped and Burgess was quick to gather to race up the touchline to take the score to 15-0.
That soon became 22-0 as well-judged crosskick from fly half Ben Hornby landed in the arms of full back Gillie, who was able to run round behind the posts to set himself up with the easiest of conversion.
West winger Jacob Wood had put in a tackle only to take a knee to the head and was led off to join the increasingly long West injury list. Zac Southern coming on at full back and Ben Reed moving to the wing.
The line-out was proving to be the only part of West’s game which was working consistently well, and Jake Linighan took his chance to reduce the arrears - going over after Matt Siddle had kicked a penalty to the corner. The fly-half adding the extra two points from the touchline.
The score galvanised West who finished the half pressing in the home 22. Jay Corbett looked to be in with a chance of going over from ten metres and appeared to be tackled before receiving the ball, unfortunately for him referee Rebecca Rees was unsighted. The incident leading to a a mass scuffle just before the half-time whistle.
West came out for the second half without Corbett, who was taking a breather, but in determined mood and quickly got their second try of the afternoon. Andrew Rollins , playing at loosehead in place of the injured Liam Pennick, the man to finish off a series of drives on the home line (above) with Siddle again successful with the conversion.
West looked to be back in the game without showing any of their usual fluency. Morpeth had other ideas. A 50-22 kick securing home line-out ball and when the ball was moved quickly right back row Craig Donnelly was able to come into the line to charge through a hole in the West defence to take the score to 29-14.
That was the end of Morpeth’s scoring with both sides slugging it out for the next 25 minutes. That was until Isaac Robinson gave West some hope of gaining points - forcing his way over in the corner (above) after a wave of West attacks had created space for skipper Ryan Painter to find him with a long pass. Siddle’s conversion hitting a post.
The final ten minutes saw West attacking and looking for the try which would give them two bonus points, but they weren’t able to breach that well-drilled home defence.
Fortunately, there’s a break next week before Consett visit on November 9th. Hopefully Liam Pennick, Will Corbett, Alex Barker, Max Tennant, Lewis Scott and Ollie Connolly will all be back in contention for that game, while Chris Atkins and Jacob Wood may take longer to return.
On the plus side the Stags’ results in the face of all of those absences show the strength of the senior squad this season.
Morpeth: Harvey Gillie, Harry Hoggan, Callum Burgess, Sam Hornby, Kieran Smith, Ben Hornby, Jack Elliott, Ian Grieve, Ryan Shaw, Tony Moody, Elliot Clark, Steve Long, Tom Leeson, Craig Donnelly, Michael Hall.
Reps (all used); Ian Burnham, Tom Katory, Dan Stafford.
Tries: Burgess (2), Gillie, Donnelly.
Cons: Gillie (3)
Pen: Gillie
West: Ben Reed , Jacob Wood, Will Hilditch, Peter Youll, Sam Knight, Matt Siddle, Ryan Painter (capt), Andrew Rollins, Tom Robertson, Adam Hutchinson, Jake Linighan, Owen Nugent, Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett.
Reps (all used): Zac Southern Charlie Kay, Jack Angus.
Tries: Linighan, Rollins, Robinson.
Cons: Siddle (2)
Referee: Rebecca Rees (Northumberland).