Just two weeks ago everything was doom and gloom but the last two weeks have restored some level of confidence for West followers. Let’s just hope things continue to improve. Starting with a daunting trip to Hollow Drift and in form Durham City next week.

The league leaders travelled up from Yorkshire with a team containing several southern hemisphere accents and boasted an international fly-half in player coach Anthony Posa, albeit representing rugby minnows Croatia rather than his native New Zealand. West kept faith with the same pack from the cup victory in Huddersfield last week and made just one change in the backs, bringing the fit-again Allan Milne back to the inside-centre position.

It was West who got off to the better start with skipper David Tighe getting the scoreboard moving after just 4 minutes with a fairly simple penalty goal. In recent weeks much has been said about the importance of getting an early lead and it should have been doubled 6 minutes later but an easier chance drifted past the post.

Posa had arrived with a reputation for a long, accurate boot but in the first half it failed to operate as well as West’s outside half Phil Wallis who made good ground with nearly every strike. The visitors looked more dangerous running the ball, with pace in midfield, but with conditions not the best for handling opted for a territorial strategy. The lineout combination of Davies and Cullinane working well for West and so for Beverley it was not proving easy to win much ball after finding touch with kicks. They did, however, have the chance to level things after 25 minutes but Matthew Jones pushed an easy penalty chance wide.

The only try came with 27 minutes gone and was down to the commitment of a chase by scrum-half come winger Darren Thomas. Tighe launched a long box kick from inside his 22 with Thomas in hot pursuit. Beverley winger Mike Pickering made a hash of collecting the ball and with Thomas breathing down his neck failed to re-gather, the West man hacking the ball on twice from half way before touching down for the try. It was a great effort and well deserved for his side who had dominated the league leaders thus far.

Henry Tones took a knock towards the end of the half and was replaced by Tim Sawyer at the break. With conditions already quite wet when the heavens opened at half time it was looking like one more score from West early on would be enough.

Phil Wallis missed a penalty chance on 55 minutes but West’s defence was still looking strong as it has most of the season so far. This is the fourth game in a row the opposition have been held to less than 10 points, testament to the hard work being put in by every player. The game had been simmering under the surface for a while, mostly due to the physical way in which it was being played and when Beverley hooker Liki Misa took Wallis out with a late hit for the second time things spilled over with several players and some replacements needing restraining. When everything calmed down the referee brandished a yellow card to Misa for the original offence, a big blow to the Yorkshire side still needing two scores to take the lead.

West had their chance to finish the game when a good break from midfield saw Paul Rudd galloping towards the corner but under pressure he lost the ball and it was starting to feel like Beverley were fighting their way back into contention. Several penalties and the boot of Posa working more effectively gained plenty of attacking territory but again the defence was strong. With 80 minutes gone Posa slotted a drop goal to send the game into a nervous period of injury time. The Brinkburn faithful are more than familiar with tight finishes and this time they were to come out on top again as Beverley failed to take their chances and when Allan Milne collected a loose ball and ran into touch the final whistle blew, West hoping this result could kick-start their season and clearly showing that the demons of two weeks ago have been firmly put to bed.

West: Hodgson, Thomas, Edwards, Milne, Todd, Wallis, Tighe, Cholmondeley, Cullinane, Robinson, Rudd, Davies, D Boatman, Tones (Sawyer), J Boatman
Reps not used: Carr, Masshedar

Try: Thomas
Pen: Tighe

Beverley: Barnes, Dale, Cuozzo, Henderson, Pickering, Posa, Archibald, Hatfield, Misa, Jones, Hancock, Hopa, Cross, Riby, MacKay
Reps: Clappison, Shaw, Infield

Drop Goal: Posa
Sin-bin: Misa

Referee: Dave Routledge [Northumberland Society]