This defeat means the Bees slip back one place in the league table, but still find themselves only seven points behind third place in the division, with eight games played.

The Bees played 20 minutes of this game facing fourteen men after West's Second row man Andrew Davies received his marching orders for a second yellow card offence, but were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

Indeed for the third time this season the Bees gifted their opposition a score with an interception which rubbed out the bonus point they were holding for being within seven of their hosts, but ultimately cost the Bees the game, as they could not fight back from 12 points in arrears in the final 13 minutes of the game.

The try scorer was left winger Greg Edwards, with the extra points tacked on by full back Stuart Waites.

The Bees drew first blood as Aidan Scully crossed within four minutes of the kick off, and in the early exchanges there appeared to be enough about the Bees all round play that they might be able to build on that early advantage.

However they could not hold out the home side as as the first quarter ended, a try from scrum half Andrew Foreman saw the former Premiership outfit draw level.

Just as the Bees thoughts may have been thinking of taking the even scores in at half time, within a minute Martin Whitcombe's men had lost Eddie Peglau to injury and also conceded another try.

If there can be a positive side to an injury it was that Ryan Wederell replaced Peglau for his first run out of the season and the leadership of the veteran Kiwi prop could be crucial for the Bees in the coming weeks.

Turning round only five points adrift, there was everything to play for in the second period, but the Bees never really managed to get fully firing on all cylinders.

With Gavin Stead firing over penalties to match a pair from Hartlepool's Waites, it was 16-11 as the game entered the final twenty.

With the home side reduced to 14 men it appeared the game could now be won, but the Bees could not turn pressure into points and the crucial interception score would prove to be their undoing.

By

Nick Patterson

West Harlepool report, CLICK HERE