I was looking forward to seeing the Premiership front runners in Wests, to see what they're doing differently and how they’re doing it. So on a very still and overcast afternoon, I went down to The Allen slope in Swanbourne.

After a delayed start, this time due to officials, all 2 of them ... we got underway. This was a very different Soaks outfit from last week’s trip to the Hills in personnel, size and very much so attitude. The first battles were very confrontational with Soaks going through possessions but not making any yardage from the physical defence of Wests. Their ‘move up the pitch’ mode when it was their turn; of hit, hit kick was effective in its application, just lacking in execution as kicks either went dead or directly into the hands of the Soaks back 3. One such counter led to the first points for the home team by way of a penalty for a late tackle. It was a great hit, just somewhat delayed but it did give us an inkling that, in what was going to be a physical game, the ref wasn’t having any it.

This initial score didn’t appear to feature in Wests plan and they made their intentions clear with some disciplined phases up the pitch reflecting the confidence they have in their own retention and continuity although on occasion they should have had another man in there to secure it cleanly; “Play for now” I was taught …

We got to the first scrum of the game almost 20 mins in resulting in a little reward as the pressure West put on Soaks defence in their own 22 told with a brace of successful penalties to take the lead, albeit momentarily as some creeping lines were caught offside for Soaks to level the kicking competition. Wests then had their 7 to thank for the 2nd scrum of the game, as he riled up the Soaks loosehead who subsequently took the scrum duties on himself to demolish a Wests pack on their ball to give some momentum back to the home side.

Going into the 2nd quarter Soaks had really turned up for this game on their own pitch matching Wests in some of the battles to make the war more interesting, with good use of possession turning into territory for both sides, notwithstanding the 80m penalty touch finder from Soaks’ 10, that didn’t find touch. The painful outcome being their pack not jogging down to the corner for a lineout 5m out, but chasing across the park shadowing some quick hands and even quicker feet for it was only the young TJ’s flag that prevented the end to end counter from a 5 pointer.

Soaks went into the break a little fortuitous as one last dubious penalty meant the lead at the break. Wests’ open-side had had his penalty quota for the game in the first half alone. I reckon this wasn’t the only aspect that was talked about at half time as Wests had spilled ball, kicked it dead and lost it in unnecessary penalties to be behind. Was this the game that would end their run?

All impetus of the motivational speeches at the turnaround was completely lost as the first 3 mins of the new half was spent setting, resetting, talking then re-re-setting of scrums. However on Soaks’ turn to gain something out of the indecision of the man in the middle, they took full advantage for their right winger got an inch of space and made use of it to take the angle and speed through the West’s 22 untouched for the first try.

The response was almost immediate from the Scarborough men with good territory gained through the regular manner but a catchable pass fumbled, was the first of several missed opportunities from both sides. However, the rest of the West weren’t leaving the Soaks half without points albeit they tried to in wasting another chance by that well known move of desperation, the miss 4. In keeping the pressure on though, it was left to the big men to make up for it, taking a drive from the set piece and ugly it over the line in that bottom corner for the West’ first try.

A stray foray back up the hill for yellow & green got a penalty back to make the difference two scores wide, but Wests demonstrated they can play for 80 minutes putting play right back down in that corner for pretty much the same again, going blind & close three times without the ref moving to see any grounding. So they went open to the ref’s side, a good move and he saw the grounding this time.

Continued pressure from the Wests defence whose line speed wasn’t quick but it was there and consistent, so it becomes especially effective in midfield when the opposition 9 can only pass with a right hand in a Premiership first team?!

The ref didn’t look at all like Steve Walsh, but certainly made the game about him at this point when a West’s penalty sailed over for all to see, with two flags under the posts going up normally to signify a successful kick. Well this guy thought different to order a 22 drop out restart and the lead stayed with the home side who thought maybe their green was getting the rub thereof.

Nah, the Scarbs crew went back down the bottom corner in a familiar fashion to generate the next decisive score, they generated it themselves which shows a worrying show of confidence for the next oppositions. The front eight were equals and well balanced, working well together for all three visit to the rewarding end of the pitch.

Ten minutes to go now and the different Soaks side weren’t accepting this, making the hard yards up the hill against that resolute defence well marshalled and vocal across the whole line. Some innovative play and hands from the young replacement hooker saw Soaks in some good positions, but maybe next week they’ll be ready for the clever, quick passes they dropped this week. It simply allowed the Wests scrum, defence and clearance mode to move the Soaks attack back further than the yards they had gained. A little last camping in the top corner right by the Soaks support of several well qualified referees’ still didn’t produce the desired outcome at the death and the undefeated visitors remained undefeated.

So, the conclusion to Wests’ doing anything significantly different should be implied throughout the above, although the standout for me was their aggressive defence and pressure on the opposition in every aspect of the game, in every part of the pitch. Will it last the season long? Well, it’s a long season keeping that tempo up.