The crucial phase of the game at McCracken Park hinged on a ten-minute spell in the second half with West camped in the home 22.

Northern were leading 19-11, after overcoming an 11-5 half time deficit, but had to defend for their lives as the superior West scrum forced four successive penalties in front of the posts. West did get over the line twice on the penalty advantage -each time No 8 Chris Atkins judged to have been held up.

Instead a penalty try and a yellow card looked in the offing. Neither was given with referee Pearse Ferguson explaining that on each occasion a different Northern player had transgressed.

And there was much whooping and hollering from the Northern players when a knock-on finally allowed them to clear the danger.

West had enjoyed the better of the first half going into an early lead with a penalty from Matt Siddle. That was  before the home backs showed what they could do with a move which stretched the West defence allowing replacement Jonny Dowell go over in the right corner. He’d come on in the first minute to replace Cody Holden who dislocated his shoulder at the kick-off.

It was a game where West’s set-piece was strong and with Northern threatening every time their backs got the ball.

So it was no surprise when West went ahead after ten minutes as Ryan Painter finished off after five metre scrum. Chris Atkins had started the attack with a strong burst from his own half, which forced a penalty allowing Siddle to kick to the corner.

The conversion was wide but Siddle was able to stretch the lead to six points with another  penalty after Peter Youll was high tackled on the home 22.

With Man of the Match Jake Linighan dominant in the line-out,  and Will Corbett and Chris Atkins leading the way in the loose,  West were good for the 11-6 half-time lead and began the second half looking to improve on that.

However, they came upon a well-organised Northern defence and a side which could make the most of its opportunities. The league leaders had three attacks in the second half and scored each time.

Their first try of the half came when the forwards powered their way into the left corner. The attack was stopped,  but quick ball from scrum half Ali Gray found prop Cole Cartmell lurking in space on the right and he was able to go over and head for the posts to set up an easy conversion from Will Jobling.

Undaunted West came back, with Northern again defending manfully in their 22,  with a series of attacks only broken up when Youll was penalised for not releasing.

The sucker punch was quick in coming with replacement flanker Paul Evans coming on an spotting an opportunity up the left. He was stopped as he raced into the West 22 but was able to send in scrum half Gray to take the score to 19-11.

 That set up those tense ten minutes underneath the home posts as West looked for at least a losing bonus point.

However, once again Northern made the most of their opportunities when they were finally able to get back into the West half. With the clock ticking down the forwards burrowed away in the left corner with second row Alex Surrey touching down to give his side a try bonus point.

At 26-11 the game had gone away from West.  There was a consolation as Chris Atkins finished from close with the missed conversion the last action of the game.

A lot of head scratching from the West faithful as to how their side hadn’t come away with any points, while Northern’s game management showed why they are now three points clear at the top of Regional 2 North. West are now in fourth place 11 points adrift of Northern,  but have plenty to play for having visited all of the other top four clubs and with Middlesbrough, Morpeth and Durham City all due at Brinkburn in the second half of the season.

Next week Guisborough are the visitors with a rearranged early 1.00 kick off to allow them to travel on to watch Falcons v Bath at Kingston Park.

Northern: Tom Chandler, Will Atkin, Nyle Godsmark, Nathan Whitworth, Cody Holden, Will Jobling, Ali Gray, Cole Cartmell, Liam Mullick, Aaron Moslemi, Alex Surrey, Dom Warby, Rob Lenderyou, Tom McCullough (capt), Will Hodgson.

Reps (all used); Josh Coombs, Paul Evans, Jonny Dowell.

Tries: Dowell, Cartmell, Gray, Surrey.

Cons (3): Jobling.

West: Matt Siddle, Sam Knight, Ollie Connolly, Peter Youll, Max Tennant, Ben Reed, Ryan Painter (capt), Andrew Rollins, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Jake Linighan, Will Corbett, Owen Nugent, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins.

Reps (all used): Alex Barker, Tom Robertson, Will Hilditch.

Tries: Painter, Atkins

Pens: Siddle (2).

Referee: Pearse Ferguson (Northumberland),