It's another blow for West who just can't seem to find any consistency this season and are now facing a familiar relegation dogfight in the new year. Before they can think about winning games they need to find points from somewhere given that in their last two outings they have failed to register anything.

Injury problems played in a big part in the team selection and West started with Paul Moss at fly-half switching Phil Wallis to full-back and Martin Todd to wing. Jonny Boatman, usually a flanker, was called into action at outside centre allowing Henry Tones to resume in the back row.

Playing down the slope in the first half Sandal enjoyed all the early pressure with West unable to get into opposition territory for the first ten minutes. However frequent mistakes cost the hosts and they came away with nothing on the scoreboard. West had Sandal's Angus Moran to thank partly for that after he screwed an easy penalty wide in the ninth minute.

West managed to gain some territory thanks to a booming kick from Moss but any scoring opportunity was squandered when a short range lineout was stolen. The visitors could take some consolation in that their forwards were working well in the loose, particularly in attack, regularly making ground with strong runs from fit-again prop Brett Cullinane and captain Stu Bennett in particular. This running had the home defences creaking but some last ditch tackling denied West anything.

With both teams struggling in attack it was no surprise to see a blank scoreboard after half an hours play. The deadlock was finally broken after thirty-four minutes. Sandal had been pressing forward but referee Beedon awarded West a penalty and seemingly a chance to clear. However the official took exception to something and reversed the decision allowing Moran to kick into the corner. Following a good take at the lineout the maul rolled its way over the line and flanker Chris Willet emerged from under the pile as the try-scorer. Moran was unable to add the conversion from wide on the right. The score came at a crucial time and against the run of play. The lead was extended when Moran added a penalty before half time to put his side 8-0 up at the break.

Although behind, West seemed more than capable of getting something from the game due to the dominance of the forwards and the help of the slope for the second half. They started well and a sweeping cross-field run from Todd put Moss away and more good loose play from the forwards brought West into scoring range once more. However just like last week at Driffield pressure could not be converted into points and mistakes in midfield were a far too regular feature.

The game turned quite scrappy with both sides guilty of handling errors and some poor decision making. Moran put his side further in-front with a penalty on seventeen minutes and the game was starting to look out of West’s reach. Andrew Davies replaced Wallis with Paul Rudd switching to wing and Todd to full-back. West were on the front foot but too many scoring opportunities were missed with passes going to ground and overlaps not exploited.

Sandal finally killed off the game in the final five minutes with a try from hooker Gary Swift following a lineout in the corner. The rolling maul was well defended but Swift was able to break on the short side and score. Moran was again unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

It's another bad result for West who unlike last week will come away knowing that there were more than enough scoring chances to win the game but they have to be taken. There is little momentum to take into the Boxing Day derby with rivals Rovers and after a few good wins over recent weeks it will be the Friaragemen going into that game as firm favourites.

West: Wallis (Davies), Todd, J Boatman, Milne, Hare, Moss, Thomas, Cullinane, Carr, Phillips, Rudd, Henderson, Sawyer, Tones, Bennett (D Boatman)

Sandal: Brindley, Ell, Breed, Thompson, Terblanche, Moran, Smith, Dix, Swift, Johnson, Norris, Riley, Willett, Burgess, Wild
Reps: Marshall, Whybrow, Currin

Tries: Willett, Swift
Pens: Moran 2

Referee: Darren Beedon
Pens: West 9 Sandal 9