It is all too easy to say that Argentinian ref Marcelo Pilara had an an eccentric game not helped by the fact that his short was remarkably similar to Tynedale's, and that he was also suffering from conjunctivitis.

We were penalised for some odd things but so were the visitors in the early stages. They learnt from their mistakes while we kept in going over the top - at least in Snr Pilara's itchy eyes.

We started very badly and didn't get any possesion in the first ten minutes. Tynedale eventually capitalised on their pressure when hooker Edward Parker went over. Belgian missed.

We came back with penalties on eleven and 19 minutes and had a fair amount of pressure without really going close to their line. Darren Thomas made a couple of bursts but, without Tim Sawyer [ or Stuart Bennett] in the back row, we struggled all match to get over the gain line. Dan Wright did his best but he is too tall and slim to make the hard yards.

Young Tones was again in the thick of it but got sin binned on 36 minutes for retaliation. No argument really, but the ref might have enquired as to how Tonesy got his extremely bloody nose in the first place.

Stabs got the kick of the match on 38 minutes wit a 48 yarder to send us in 9-5 ahead but facing a stiffening breeze in the second half.

Were we up for it? Frankly no. We hardly got into their 22 in the second half while Belgian's kicking out of hand was far better than his goal kicking.

We huffed and puffed but couldn't stop scrum half Ed Homles going in for a couple with Phil Belgian going over himself in the last minute.

Stabler was at a loss to explain the second half performance. It was lack lustre to say the least and now the lads have to pick themselves up for the cup match at Darlington - fortunately Sawyer will be back.

West: Cuff, Lassey, Kerr, Connolly [capt], Barff [Walton 15], Stabler, Thomas, Geritz [Chomondeley 60], Cullinane, Cook, Webb, Davies, Rudd[Whitehead 60], Tones [Robinson 65], Wright.

Tynedale A Moses, A Roberts, G Fleming, P Boston, M Lytollis, M Walton, P Belgian, E Holmes, R Parker, E Parker, P Southern, K Johnson, S Turnbull, S Jewitt, G Rastall, J Murray. Replacements A Charlton, C Batey, S Auld, S Allen.