These were the days of Northern Merit Table rugby, Merit Tables being the forerunner of the pyramid league system we have today. The introduction of the Northern Merit Table was to prove controversial for the Friarage Club with Rovers, still the top Durham side at the time being excluded from the first table yet the emerging West commanding a place. Rovers, along with Middlesbrough and Huddersfield who also felt harshly treated, lobbied the RFU and succeeded in being granted a place for the following season, providing a 25% success rate was achieved in their fixtures against Merit Table sides.

This was duly achieved but the need to sustain this percentage success rate could prove tricky since the table did not operate on a home and away basis, merely a single fixture. This meant that an imbalance of home games helped in one season but the reverse applied the following season and this was the biggest curse of the Merit Table regime. From memory, Rovers had something like a 70%/30% imbalance, not an ideal scenario.

In due course, leagues took over but in the trade offs at their inception, Rovers found themselves in North One, it's fair to say somewhat unfairly, with West gaining a place in National 3 and Durham City, amazingly in view of their results at the time, in National 4 North along with Preston Grasshoppers.

Anyway back to the action on that far off Boxing Day.

West had the advantage of a strong downfield wind in the first half but only had a 3 point interval lead thanks to a Derek Boyd 53 metre penalty awarded when Allan Calvert had been ruled offside after a kick ahead by current Assistant Coach Kevin Wood. West had used the high ball tactic from the first whistle but Rovers were equal to this and West seemed unable or incapable of changing this method which saw Rovers easily contain their opponents.

The first chance of the game had been a drop goal effort by West's Dave Peart to which Rovers responded with some driving play with Wood and Ian Millican to the fore. Boyd had a further two chances to extend the West lead but could not find the target. In the closing stages of the first half, Paul Stacey, father of Martin, set up a promising West attack but Calvert was able to clear well downfield with an excellent clearance kick.

With a nominal deficit and the wind in their favour, Rovers started the second half strongly and favourites to overhaul West's score. They did so very early on when West were forced to concede a 5 metre scrum, Wood's kick ahead being carried over their own line. The Rovers' scrummage was strong and the ball was released for Tony Makin to cross for a try. Calvert could not convert from wide out but Rovers had the lead 4-3.

West had a dream chance half way through the half when Dave Stubbs had what seemed a clear run in but Makin pulled off a tremendous tackle and the chance was gone. This miss was to prove costly as the Friaragemen went straight upfield and increased their lead to 8-3. The backs were set in motion and Mick Ainslie entered the line at speed to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.

Rovers had a late chance to put the game out of reach when another great passage of passing saw Millican and Colin Winspear just stopped short.

The result was never really in doubt over the 80 minutes and the win took Rovers away from the lower reaches of the table whilst pushing West further down the league towards the bottom spot.

Ian Millican