Blaydon 30, Luctonians 0 – Blaydon win at Kingston Park
Blaydon win moves them just above Wharfedale and currently out of the relegation places:
Pictures by Iam Smith:
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On paper this was a must win for both sides in their battles to avoid the relegation trap and potentially therefore a close affair. The reality was a comprehensive 5 points win for Blaydon who ran in 6 tries without reply and with a little more composure it could have been a lot more.
In what was their first outing on the artificial surface at Kingston Park it took Blaydon 10 minutes to get the hang of it whilst the visitors pushed them around at scrums and line-outs, but they survived and gradually gained a foothold in the opposition half and there was no looking back.
On 17 minutes skipper Keith Laughlin broke off from a short scrum and when he was held up on the line Matt Charlton was on hand to dive over. Luctonians re-started, the kick was fielded and passed along the home 22 for Dan Marshall to take it on and release Jack Appleton to show a clean pair of heels in a devastating run from half-way for a second score.
Appleton was then involved in the next attack which culminated in a penalty kicked to touch and Matt Thompson crossing from the lie-out maul, before securing the bonus point try himself just before the interval with a trademark skip past his opposite number and an unstoppable burst to the line.
Much of the second half was best forgotten with Luctonians at last gaining some territory but constantly dropping the ball or being penalised in the face of a determined home defence, with Blaydon at times just as indulgent with their possession.
Going into the final quarter it was still 20-0 but once the visitors effort was spent Blaydon got back on the front foot and typically it was a howler of a back pass by a Luctonians defender that led to the fifth try. The ball went down in the 22 and Davidson was quickest to re-act and hack-on to the line where he picked up and put Joe Whyman over for a simple score.
Laughlin, who had been involved in everything, popped up twice in the final minute in what was the best Blaydon handling movement of the game that pressed and pressed again at the visitors until flanker Harry Borthwick finished off in style.
John Brennan
