Darlington ran out deserved winners, but it was another competemnt performance by West with Jon Boatman again outstanding at No 8 and good performances all round against a side two leagues higher.

Boatman was lucky to escape a yellow himself when he took out winger David Kell on seven minutes. Steve Havery rightly awarded a penalty try and, under the change to the laws made last month, it should have been an automatic yellow. Kell was chasing a kick through but Thomas was covering and Boatman's rash challenge was unnecessary.

We had the wind behind us and came straight back and good work by the backs set up a series of mauls on the home line which eventually saw Darren Thomas wriggle through and snake out a hand to tocuhdown. Davy Tighe missed the conversion.

Full back David Glendenning finished off a slick move from a penalty on 25 minutes to extend the home lead to 12-5 but we then enjoyed our best spell of the match. Unfortunately, Davy was narrowly wide with one penalty attempt and then failed to have the luck of the bounce as he chipped over the home defence. Lambert did race away from 30 metres to go under the posts but play was brought back to the half way line for a tough call on a Tighe knock on.

Darlington made the most of the wind in the second half and took advantage when Chocky Davies was sin binned for kicking the ball away on 57 minutes. Darlington had already added two penalties, but tries from Richard Snowball on the hour and Fabulous Frankie Coulson on 65 and 70 sealed the game for Darlo.

We didn't give up and Tim Sawyer managed to round off some pressure on 72 minutes when he forced his way over while most of the rest of the two packs were involved in some fisticuffs behind Havery's back.

Davy converted to make it 35-12, and then Lambert got the try he deserved when he astutely waited his chance as the Darlington backs ran the ball in their own half. He stepped into the channel between the two centres to intercept and race in.

He looked to be a certain scorer again just two minutes from time when he stepped round his marker only to be felled by a high arm [or two]. The culprit was Koro Niubalavu, one of the Fijian Army lads who turn out for Darlington and he was lucky to escape a card. Lambert is fortunate that his dad is a dentist and can put the damage right. He was also dazed after the game and may have to miss the Under 17's last two games which will almost certainly seal their Yorkshire League title. He deserved a better end to his full debut.

Darlington: D Glendenning, D Kell, N Howe, B Snook, F Coulson, P Lee [capt], R Stewart, P Scott, R Goddard, J Oselton. Matt Dilworth, R Snowball, A lewis, M Howe, M Taylor, Res; P Lancaster D Miller, K Niubalavu.