On a very blustery afternoon at Brinkburn with West wearing their pink charity strip to save their normal strip for Boxing Day, both sides managed the conditions well with a limited number of handling errors and some enterprising play. Guisborough managing to stay into the game until the early stages of the second half when West ran away with it - scoring a total of nine tries on the day all by different players.

The hosts began the game in style with Max Tennant and skipper Ryan Painter, playing his 250th game,  going close. But they had to wait until the tenth minute to get the scoreboard moving with pressure on the Guisborough line finished  by Andrew Rollins.

With usual goalkicker Matt Siddle on the bench,  Ollie Connolly stepped up to put over a fine conversion into the gale.

Guisborough came back with a fine try up the right wing with three players interchanging passes as they raced in from 30 metres, - winger Isaac Fisaher taking the final scoring pass from Toiny Conway and fly half Alfie Barber converting to level the scores.

The visitors continued to give as good as they got and West had to wait until the 25^th minute to regain the lead. Two penalties allowed the home side to turn defence into attack and from the second Will Corbett powered his way over from the resulting line-out (above) with Connolly’s conversion taking the score to 14-7.

Full back Sam Knight then looked to have increased West’s lead with a spectacular swallow dive finish in the corner (left) only to see it chalked off for a foot in touch. But the home side were not to be denied as Chris Atkins went from a scrum on the Guisborough 22. He was stopped short, however Peter Youll was able to follow up to crash over from close range with Connolly’s conversion coming back of a post. Once again Guisborough came back with a fine individual try from George Speakman who had moved from full back to scrum half. He was the first to react as the ball squirted out from a scrum ten metres into the West half showing a very clean pair of heels as he raced to the line.

It was 19-12 at the break and still close,  but the visitors were dealt a blow early in second half as powerful No 8 Ben Buckworth was yellow carded for a high tackle on Isaac Robinson.

West had rung the changes at the break with Matt Siddle on at fly-half. He quickly imposed himself on the game with a long pass which allowed Max Tennant to go over in the corner to secure the try bonus point. Once again Connolly hitting the post with the conversion attempt.

The West pack was dominant throughout and eventually, as their heavier opponents tired, they began to turn the screw.

A forward pass denied Rollins a second try before Painter was held up over the line. However, Guisborough’s drop out went straight into touch to provide West with another opportunity from the five metre scrum. Connor McLurg, who had also come on at half time, forcing his way over but knocking on as he did so.

The try eventually did come as Liam Pennick and Peter Youll both went close before Siddle found Ollie Connolly with a pass which allowed the centre to go through a gap before converting  to take the score to 31-12.

That margin was quickly increased to 26 points with Siddle sidestepping two defenders to go in close to the posts.

Will Hilditch then came off his right wing to burst through the centre to find Tennant out wide. This time the Guisborough defence was up to the challenge with the left winger bundled into touch.

However, there was no stopping Sam Knight,  who once again showed his skills as Guisborough failed to deal with a crosskick from Siddle. The West full back juggling the ball at speed as he was able to finally gather and go over in the corner.

West’s eight try of the afternoon was a gift from Guisborough who overthrew at a lineout with Isaac Robinson gratefully accepting the opportunity to break for the line. He was stopped short but the visitors couldn’t prevent Chris Atkins from collecting to crash over (above) - Connolly continuing the kicking duties and getting his fifth conversion of the afternoon.

His sixth and final successful kick came with just a few minutes left on the clock after Siddle weaved his way to the line from 15 metres to set up hooker Aidan Jackson-Smith.

West will go into the New Year still in fourth place,  but with fifth placed Durham City now lagging seven points behind the leading quartert after their defeat at the hands of leaders Northern.

West: Sam Knight, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Peter Youll, Max tenant, Ben Reed, Ryan Painter (capt), Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Andrew Rollins, Will Corbett, Owen Nugent, Alex Barker, Isaac Robinson, Chris Atkins.

Reps (all used): Matt Siddle, Connor McLurg, Adam Hutchinson.

Tries: Rollins, Corbett, Youll, Tennant, Connolly, Jackson-Smith, Siddle , Knight, Atkins.

Cons: Connolly (6)

Guisborough: Tony Conway, Tom Pajak, Henry Turner, Alex Ruff, Isaac Fisher, Alfie Barber, George Speakman, Mitch Cannon, Conner McFarland, Matt Robinson, Max Wood, Michael Henderson, Oliver Muir, Archie Turner, Ben Buckworth.

Reps (all used); Matt Storey, Michael Tucker, Tom Oatway.

Tries: Fisher, Speakman.

Con: Barber

Yellow: Buckworth.

Referee: Andy Flisher (Durham).