Blaydon 30, Fylde 24, Blaydon secure much needed league win

 

When Brett Connon slotted over a couple of late penalties to extend the Blaydon lead to 30-19 it finally looked as though the club were on their way to a first win of the season. Nothing is ever straight forward however and the visitors who had ran the ball throughout the game were still at it in the closing minutes, running in a 4th try to make it a nail-biter of a finish.
But Blaydon held firm and thoroughly deserved the rousing cheer they were given on the whistle. A delighted director of Rugby Micky Ward said “We knew they would throw the ball around until the death, and yes they scored a few tries but overall I thought our defence was at a totally different level to what it has been for the last few weeks. If we continue to perform like we did today we should be ok”.
Fylde had a lot of early pressure but once Blaydon began to retain possession and move it upfield the forwards always looked likely to score and when Chris Wearmouth was held up on the line they switched direction for Tom Grimes to skip over with Connon adding the extras.
Try No2 soon followed when Grimes twisted one way and then the other to get over half-way, and with Gavin Jones prominent the pack dived in and scrum-half Nathan Horsfall was able to get the touch.
When a somewhat harsh yellow card for what was adjudged a deliberate knock-on was picked up the visitors took advantage to score through Matt Lamprey, Greg smith converting, but Blaydon were in again before the interval when hooker Matt Thompson was driven over from a catch and drive to make it a half-time lead of 17-7.
In what rapidly became an end to end second period Fylde pulled back 5 points with a Rob Stewart try but Blaydon secured their try bonus point when Jones crossed from another tried and trusted driving maul. Fylde then ran in a 3rd score when Chris Briers skated past a half-hearted tackle and suddenly there wasn’t much in it.
But then came the Connon penalties and the dramatic finale leading to a much deserved first entry in the league table W column.

John Brennan