Blaydon secure playoff spot in style, Vale of Lune 15 Blaydon 87
Blaydon will play Luctonians away on 27th April, winner takes the final promotion spot to National Two North
Vale of Lune 15 Blaydon 80
It was a case of mission accomplished for Blaydon yesterday when they picked up the 5 points needed to guarantee them a second place finish in the league and a play off for promotion.
Not that it took much accomplishing against a Vale of Lune side already doomed to relegation and that had shipped over a 1000 points in the league thus far including a 92-12 hammering at Crow Trees in the opening game of the season.
Blaydon will now travel to Luctonians, runners-up in the Midlands Division, on Saturday 27th April to determine which of them will return to National League Two North for next season.
Vale of Lune were outclassed from start to finish against a Blaydon side short of 7 regulars but still more then strong enough to take their try tally to 152, their league points to exactly 100, and in the process reach their own milestone of 1000 points registered.
Lock forward Jack Davidson got the scoreboard rolling in the 6th minute from good work by the pack and was quickly followed over the try line by Dan Marshall who skipped through the defence in typical style.
Hooker Sean Pyle was next, winger Jack Appleton raced clear from half-way when Vale dropped the ball, and by the interval Davidson had touched down twice more to secure his hat-trick.
Leading by 40 points to nil at the break Blaydon continued where they had left off with scores from Dan Taylor and Marshall his second before easing off and allowing the home side some territory and possession.
Fraser Stores, Tom Smith and Chris Haswell contributed 15 points between them for Vale but the tries were still coming thick and fast at the other end from Matt Charlton and 2 more from Appleton to make it another hat-trick hero on the day.
John Brennan
