Ironically, after a season in which league and cup games have been played with only 16/17 players available, West were almost at full strength. Only centre Peter Dewhirst was missing, with a sprained ankle, although fellow centre Stephen Short’s neck injury limited him to a half. Gavin Robinson moved to inside centre, with Michael Young at stand-off, and Tom Dougherty returning at scrum half.

Ballymena started strongly and forced West back towards their line, but, as has been the case throughout the season, they defended well. The Irish side (u18s, not u17s), were running powerfully and penetrating, but the covering defence was excellent. West started to apply their own pressure, but it was from a sustained Ballymena attack that West scored their first try. In a classic counter attack, Gavin Robinson intercepted a pass and broke through the centre before swinging a good pass out to Chris Lambert, who went in under the posts, leaving Rob Bellerby a simple conversion. West now started to get on top, and eventually earned a series of penalties close to the Irish line, with a final tap freeing Tom Dougherty, who fed flanker Tom Barker for the second try, Bellerby again converting for a 14-0 lead which West kept till half-time.

The second half was, like the first, a tight affair, with neither side dominating. Both defences were excellent, and the scoreless half a fair reflection of the two teams balancing each other out, although prop John Greenwell was unlucky to have a try ruled out when ref Dave Swainson judged the ball held up.

A rewarding end to a fine season. After the match the team and support staff were presented with medals by the club to commemorate their winning the Yorkshire League. Next season the team will operate as part of the Colts side at the club, hopefully again taking part in a Yorkshire league, as well as gaining some challenging local fixtures.