With a host of established players missing through holidays and work commitments, plus a suspension for Ryan Painter hanging over from last season, both squads had an unfamiliar look about them.

On Friday night City won 25-26 with a last minute touchline conversion with the game ending prematurely as the gloom set in.

There were two notable tries for West. The first from Louis Ward who seems happy playing anywhere on the pitch. He was in the second row on Friday and showed his speed to race in from 30 metres after stealing the ball in the tackle.

Hooker Lewis Dawson-Weatherill, who has joined from Old Boys, had an impressive game including proving unstoppable from ten yards.

Old Brodleians set off like a train on Saturday going 14-0 up  courtesy of some missed tackles. The Halifax side are well drilled with some pace in the backs and  will,  no doubt, have an excellent season in our equivalent Regional 2 league.

With a second row of Nick Bennions and new signing Elliott Reed, nornally a flanker, it took some time for the pack to settle. The line-out wasn't a souce of decent ball for us all afternoon (Jake Linghan was working) but as the game progressed the scrum had Old Brods going backwards at a rate of knots.

When West got into the game Jack Angus crashed over before the vistors increased their lead to 7-26. Sam Knight wqs in fine form and won a penalty try as he was high-tackled on the line .

When West did win a line-out in the Old Brods 22 new skipper Chris Atkins was unstoppable with Jobe Roxby converting.

Back came Old Brods to give themselves a 12-point margin before Knight scored the try of the game- weaving his way over from 25 metres with Roxby again adding the extras.

The closeness of the 28-33 scoreline had seemed unlikely in the first half,  and it even looked like West might sneak the game. However, an attacking scrum on the 22 somehow led to Brods pinching the ball and they moved upfield to complete the scoring.

Knight's impressive running was closely matched by Jacob Wood, who had come on in the centre early for an injured Will Hilditch, with Matty Tyers managing to look lively both at hooker and later at full-back. That doesn't happen very often.

Old Broids had two players yellow carded as the contest closely resembled a league game. Hopefuly that will prove useful as the senior sides have two big games on the opening weekend.  Relegated Percy Park are our first visitors n Regional 2 North, while the newly promoted Stags travel to Darlington Mowden Park in CaNDY One.