Blaydon 12, Tynedale 33

On paper Tynedale who had won well the previous week looked to be favourites to win this first renewal of a local derby for 3 years whilst Blaydon who had started badly seemed likely underdogs. And so it proved with the visitors displaying the crisper passing and the better eye for a break, and most importantly making fewer mistakes.

They were 2 tries ahead in 13 minutes, led 7-21 at the break, and seemed on course for a substantial victory. Blaydon however had other ideas, pulled back a try and won the 3rd quarter with some much tighter defence that kept the visitors quiet for long periods.
But they failed to create any more chances and by the end Tynedale had taken their tally to 5 tries and thoroughly deserved the 5 points they earned.
Blaydon had been on the back foot from the off and having failed to clear properly from a Tynedale penalty to the corner attack conceded the first try from the next line-out when Robert Palmer went in from a movement off the tail, Ashley Smith landing the first of his 4 successful conversions.
When Blaydon lost possession in attack the visitors moved it swiftly upfield to winger Guy Pike who rounded the last line of defence to run in try number two but on the half-hour Blaydon full-back James Cooney launched a counter with a brilliant burst up-field for Rob Lenderyou to storm into the 22. The forwards laid siege and from a penalty to the corner Matt Charlton went over for a well deserved try, hooker Matt Thompson adding the extras.
By the interval Tynedale had restored their advantage through Joe Mills from more smart line-out work and it was 7-21 at the break.
Blaydon quickly made that 12-21 after Jon Tindle-Hames had carried well into the 22 and Thompson touched down from a rolling maul, but this time there was to be no conversion from the number two.
Tynedale comfortably avoided any further set-backs and went on to grab a bonus point try with some more excellent passing that put Will Miller in from close range, and then in the final minute and from no apparent danger a superb one-two sent Jamie Blamire clear to put the icing on the cake for the Corbridge side.

John Brennan