One bright spot was the return of Mark Thompson who started on the bench.
Only six Redcar players survived from the Powergen Cup game with skipper Neil Cook ands Nick Young returning in the second row and the powerful Ritchie Barker starting at No 8.
West were already without Brett Cullinane, Darren Thomas and Allan Milne and then suffered further setbacks in the first five minutes when both flankers limped off with ankle injuries. Jon Boatman was unable to resume, but a strapped up Henry Tones limped back only to be taken to hospital at the final whistle.
West did make the early running with Martin Todd making the first break of the game. He caught a kick on his own 22 and set off on a run which took him to the opposing 22 but his pass to Dan Abrahams was just forward.
West mounted a series of attacks in the corner, but Redcar’s heavier pack got them out of trouble when they pushed West off their own five metre scrum in front of the posts, and the danger was cleared.
Former West full back Bradley Stovell called a mark to stop another home attack. His clearance ended in a line-out and driving maul which saw Paul Beal touch down for4 the first try which was converted by Patterson.
Davy Tighe missed two penalties before West got on the score sheet on the half hour. This time Redcar were unable to stem a series of rolling mauls and Tim Sawyer was the man to finish it off with Tighe again missing the kick.
West were enjoying their best spell of the game but couldn’t add to their score.
At halt time it was anybody’s game but it was Redcar’s heavyweight pack which took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break.
Just two minutes into the half scrum half Matt Hemmingway mad a blind side break from ten metres and found himself unopposed. Five minutes later Jamie Connolly left his outside centre berth to get involved in a maul and it was he who scored against his former club.
Referee Mike Hodgson then annoyed both sides with a series of yellow cards in what was an even tempered game. First it was West’s Anth Carr and Redcar’s Ritchie Barker who took the ten minute break, after a minor scuffle on the floor, and then Henry Tones and winger Patterson followed equally mystified by their misdemeanour.
West mounted a rare attack when they were down to 13 men and fly half Phil Wallis slotted an excellent drop goal.
West brought on centre Mark Thompson for his first outing of the season but he couldn’t stem the tide and flying winger Matthew Storey finished off a break by Ritchie Barker to score in the corner.
West did get a try back with just a few minutes left. Anth Carr tried to go over from a maul but couldn’t get round the post. Tim Sawyer was backing up and he did force his way over for a converted try to make it 24-15.
But West’s hopes of maintaining a semi-respectable shoreline were dashed in the last seconds as Ritchie Barker made yet another break to go over. Fly Half Gareth Foreman missed a simple conversion.

West: Martin Todd, Andrew Hare, Peter Hodgson, Paul Moss [Mark Thompsnon 68], Dan Abrahams, Phil Wallis, Davy Tighe, Anth Carr, Tim Sawyer, Mark Cholmondeley [Glynn Dono 74],Carl Miller, Phil Henderson, Jon Boatman [Stuart Bennett 5], Henry Tones, Phil Gilbraith.
Yellow: Carr, Tones


Redcar: B. Stovell, M Storey, J Connolly, K McMahon, M Patterson, G Foreman, M Hemmingway, I Potter, G Waterfield, P Beal, N Cook [capt], N Young, G Evans, A Stewart, R Barker. Reps: J Nicholas, S Turner, G Hathaway.
Yellow: Barker, Patterson

Referee Mike Hodgson [Durham]