Blaydon 36, Ilkley 18

The home side began well and the visitors struggled in the scrums but despite constant pressure in the opening stages, Blaydon by either wrong options or silly penalties conceded did not open their account and on their first visit to the Blaydon  half, visiting scrum half and star player Blake Morgan finished off a good movement for Charlie Ramsay to convert.

The home side immediately went back on the attack and eventually from a good catch and drive, hooker Gareth Henderson scored in the corner for Ryan Foreman to make an excellent conversion.    The home supporters may have thought this was the beginning of a resurgence but this was not to be so and after 20 minutes Ramsay again put the visitors in front with an easy penalty.   At this stage Blaydon lost Keith Laughlin with a yellow card but amazingly improved their possession and from another catch and drive this time scrum half Dan Taylor touched down and Foreman again added the extras.   Just before half time, the same player kicked an easy penalty to put Blaydon 17 – 10 in front at the interval.

The pattern of play did not change and Blaydon could not increase their lead and eventually the visitors reduced the arrears when Ramsay kicked another penalty.  On the hour, the game changed with Blaydon at last making use of good ball and making inroads on the visiting defence and following another forward drive, prop Alex Dodds touched down near the posts for Foreman to add the points again.   Blaydon continued to attack and a barnstorming run from second row Fred Lockwood which saw him make 40 metres shaking off several tackles and coming just short but quickly presented ball saw Rob Lenderyou touch down for another try and the bonus point.   The conversion was missed this time but Blaydon were now comfortably in the lead, however, on a rare visit, second row Eric King scored in the corner for the visitors to reduce the arrears.

Blaydon resumed normal service and just before the end, Foreman received possession at one side of the field and seeing Nathan Bailey unmarked on the opposite side, he cleverly kicked 60 metres for Bailey to out jump his opposite number, collect, and race in from 15 metres which Foreman duly converted and in the end Blaydon ran out comfortable winners.

The win sees Blaydon still in second place behind Billingham.   Next week we travel to Cumbria to take on Kirkby Lonsdale with a 2.15.p.m. kick off.