There was a cool, calculating ferocity about the way the table-topping Shieldsmen crushed what lingering aspirations their third-placed opponents may still have nurtured.

They were the Tigers, but it was Gareth Nesbit's men who bared their claws.

Hull, just two points behind, beat visitors Stockport to sustain their challenge, but if Westoe can replicate anything like this form in the last two games then national rugby will surely be played at Wood Terrace for the first time next season and with the league pennant as a proud bonus.

Home supporters who dismissed this as an off-day by their team rather missed the point.

Sheffield, who had previously not had their colours lowered at home, simply were not given the opportunity to play well.

Their forwards competed, and their backs showed a turn of speed and sure handling.

But attack after attack was ruthlessly brought to a shuddering halt by a defensive blockade in no mood to be messed with.

It was breached only once, when winger Gareth Morley touched down beside the right corner flag shortly before the end of a first half in which the hosts, try as they might, were prevented from capitalising further on a favourable wind sweeping across their pitch on a plateau 700 feet above sea level.

After the interval they were just not in the hunt.

It was a superb team effort to which everyone contributed, most conspicuously fly-half Ashley Moeke who, in just his third game, again demonstrated what an asset he is.

He scored a try he converted himself, and then completing a flawless display of place-kicking in difficult, swirling conditions, with two more conversions and three penalties.

And he did it in a spare pair of boots borrowed from flanker and fellow Kiwi Kerry Wood when, to his horror, he realised he had forgotten his own!

That Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe were able to maintain the intensity of their game throughout was a tribute to their stamina and fitness.

The only dark cloud was a bad ankle injury to wholehearted lock John Younghusband, who had to be helped from the field in the 25th minute.

Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe showed plenty of spark and spirit from the start, and deserved to take a seven-point lead after 22 minutes when a scrum inside Sheffield's 22 led to a deft dummy by Moeke to score beside the posts, and his first penalty in added time gave his side a 10-5 lead at the turnaround.

Soon after the resumption, centre James Fitzpatrick powered his way deep into the Tigers' territory, his precise, lobbed pass finding replacement lock Oliver Stedman on the left wing, who finished the job.

And in the dying minutes long-legged No 8 John Dye's 30-yard burst set away Wood, who off-loaded for fellow flanker Ryan Foster to touch down on the opposite flank – Moeke expertly converting both from just inside the touchline.

The win means that Westoe now have a 21-point better scoring record than Hull, which could be crucial if the race goes to the wire.

* The Seconds' wildly fluctuating season continues. A week after demolishing Northern 84-10 they slumped to a 20-0 Candy League defeat at Horden against streetwise opponents, who showed a dogged determination.

* A makeshift Third XV were also outclassed and beaten 28-3 in their Northumberland League clash against hosts Prudhoe and Stocksfield, their only success being a late penalty by fly-half Colin Gillespie.

* In a game very much of two halves, the Colts went down 42-27 at Penrith.

Losing 39-7 at the interval, they rallied strongly, but too late. Tries were scored by winger David Rundle (2), scrum-half Michael Booth and No8 Graham Elstob, with fly-half Christopher Baines kicking two conversions and a penalty.