AFTER failing to win any of their previous six league games, this was a welcome victory for Middlesbrough.

But any notion of a return to top form would be pie in the sky.

The article in the match programme entitled Pie In The Park was far more entertaining than the game, displaying a wit and creativity sadly lacking on the field.

It was apparently written to mark the first annual Acklam Park Pie Baking Contest, which took place on the night before Christmas Eve.

This was the first home match since, and while the players should have had plenty of time to work off a surfeit of pastry they had to rely on the boot of Simon O’Farrell to apply the crust to their labours.

After beating Sheffield Tigers last week to climb off the foot of National Three North, West Hartlepool would also have hoped for better. But on this evidence the season will continue to be a scrap to avoid relegation, which would be a big setback after they had apparently turned the corner.

They can at least take heart from not conceding a try for the second successive week and have enough home games against fellow strugglers to stay afloat.

A try rarely looked likely, and the muddy conditions could not take all the blame.

Peter Wright, Boro’s scrum half and captain, made a couple of sniping breaks which might have led to scores with better finishing, and the packs enjoyed one rumble each which got them to the line, but not across it.

Back row men who caught the eye were Carl Kirwan, one of several Boro players returning after injury, and West’s Jonny Boatman.

Unfortunately, Boatman blotted his copybook ten minutes from time when he was penalised and the referee punished his verbal reaction with a yellow card.

A couple of other dubious penalties worked in Boro’s favour in a match which started and finished with West fly half Paul Moss missing the target.

He was successful from under the posts to make it 6- 3 after 26 minutes, but O’- Farrell struck again from 30 metres just before half-time.

Hopes of a little more sparkle after the break quickly vanished. West sent on burly prop Michael Hogan for Anth Carr and competed well in the scrums, but the few brief moments of excitement came from Boro.

A break and chip by Wright was thwarted by Boatman matching him for pace, then Rob Bellerby collected a Moss chip under pressure and impressively launched a counter-attack.

West once worked the ball along the line for replacement winger Stuart Waites to have a run, but his opposite number, Andy Micklewright, must have wondered why he had opted to return to serious rugby after a two-year break. Eating hot pies in the splendid new clubhouse must seem a tastier option.