With a host of players in both squads leading to frequent player changes,  and confusing shirt swops, there was little opportunity for any fluent play with the referee Mark  Harrington's whistle the soundtrack of the afternoon.

The bonus for West was the performance of the Academy lads with Hayden Hodgson, Max Tobin and Joe Cholmondeley all looking more than comfortable in a game which had its feisty moments and two incidences of “handbags.”

Matty Baggs got things going (above) spotting a gap as West attacked after Max Tobin made a break up  the left wing. Jobe Roxby having the simplest of conversions.

Rovers came back with  an interception and break up the left wing from their 22,  which took the score to 5-7,  before hooker Hodgson showed what he can do  with a sharp finish (above). Again offering  Roxby an easy conversion.

Rovers again came back forcing their way over on the half-hour mark,  and the scoreline stayed at 12-14 until the break.

One of the better worked tries of the afternoon then saw  Ollie Connolly finish well with Roxby on target again.

Matt Siddle was the next scorer (above). Sidd is always one to take the Boxing Day game seriously and he came off the bench to make a major impact  - latching onto a bouncing ball after Aidan Jackson-Smith had made a break through midfield to find Matty Tyers,  who had come on in the centre.

At 12-28 it looked like the game was over. To their credit Rovers attacked the clubhouse end with some vigour and able   to force their way over from close range to reduce the margin to nine points.

That was the end of their scoring as first Siddle sent Chris Akins on a swift break and finish up the right touchline with a thoroughly deserved try. Then Nick Bennions returned to the fray at No.8 - storming  over from a line-out with Roxby taking the final score to 19-38.

The two clubs meet again on Sunday when the Stags host the Heughers at Brinkburn with a 1.00 kick off.