Whatever importance the coaches or players were giving to this game beforehand there can be little argument that the result can only benefit West going into a New Year battling for league safety and up until today struggling for both form and tries.

West dominated the early part of the 200th meeting of these two local rivals and Rovers were pinned in their own half for most of the opening 10 minutes. The visitors did manage to clear thanks to a penalty and worked play up to the West 22. Brian Foreman was almost away with a carbon copy of the move which got him a try in league game in October but a diving Peter Hodgson managed to bring him down.

The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes when following a great run down the wing by Tommy Barff and some good support play by the forwards, Henry Tones smuggled his way over for the opening try. Davy Tighe went just left with the conversion attempt.

Rovers came back strongly but mistakes around the base of the ruck and some average midfield passing saw several promising positions squandered. The highlight of the first half had certainly been the running of the West forwards who time and again got over the gain line and found the continuity which had been lacking over the last few weeks. They were also having some success with the rolling maul and it was this that brought the second try just before half time. Starting outside the 22 the maul rumbled on to about 5 meters out from where Anth Carr broke away to touch down close to the posts. Davy had no problem with the conversion to send West in at the break 12-0 up and it was no less than they had deserved.

Rovers came out with much more purpose in the second half and had West under pressure virtually from the restart. This led to a lineout and rolling maul close to the line from which Andrew Foreman darted over in the corner with only 47 minutes on the clock. Brother Gareth added a conversion from the touchline to close the gap to a single try and set the game up nicely.

West responded with two changes bringing on in-form Jon Boatman for Henry Tones and Iain Dixon for Tommy Barff. Their first job was in defence though, as Rovers pushed forward looking for another score. The visitors were camped in the 22 for nearly fifteen minutes as the West defence conceded a string of penalties, which saw Tim Sawyer go to the sin-bin. The Friaragemen turned down several kickable penalties opting to go for the try but crucially could not add to their score. Eventually some loose passing in the backs saw the ball go to ground and West able to clear. However, the respite was to be short lived as not long after Sawyer’s ten minutes were up, Dixon was shown a yellow card for handling the ball in a ruck and Rovers surged forward again.

Gareth Foreman had decided to have a shot at goal on 65 minutes from what looked to be a relatively simple position about 15m out. The score would have left Rovers needing only another penalty to take the lead but surprisingly he blazed wide to let West off the hook.

The final ten minutes were full of more Rovers’ pressure but once again the home defence managed to hold out thanks, in particular, to a great try saving tackle from 17 year old replacement Chris Lambert on Michael Charlton who looked to be over in the corner. The home side cleared thanks to a lineout take against the throw and the full time whistle was met with jubilation and relief for all those wearing green, white and red.

A feast of well executed, running rugby this game certainly was not but a bumper crowd saw another fiercely contested derby which will do much to boost morale in the West camp and hopefully be the best possible preparation for the visit of Morpeth to Brinkburn on January the 8th in what is a ‘must win’ game.

West: Todd, Barff (Dixon), Hodgson, Milne, Hare (Lambert), Tighe, Thomas, Cholmondeley, Carr, Phillips, Rudd, Davies, Sawyer (Miller), Tones (Boatman), Bennett

Tries: Tones, Carr Conv: Tighe
Sinbin: Sawyer, Dixon

Rovers: B Foreman, G Foreman, Rutherford, Kirton, Lilley (P Hall), Walton (P Arnell), A Foreman, Wise, Nicholls, Todd, Power, S Smith, D Smith (P Dakers), Ryder, Charlton

Try: A Foreman Conv: G Foreman

Referee: Chris Wray (Hartlepool)