Hull RUFC 16, Blaydon 14 – Blaydon secure a losing bonus point at Hull RUFC
North Premier league 2nd place still a possibility for Blaydon.
- Blaydon lose at Hull RUFC but secure a bonus point for points difference being less than 7
- Billingham win at Sandal but don’t secure try bonus point., so their lead is 4 points.
- Billingham still have to play Hull RUFC on 6th April
- Blaydon go to Billingham on the 9th February.
It’s not just about these games, there are good sides in this league that will have a say in 2nd place, but It does look like the race for 2nd will go all the way to end of the season.
Get behind the team
#pumpthecrow
Match report: Hull 16 Blaydon 14
Blaydon travelled to league leaders Hull for their first game in 2019 and went mightily close to reversing the narrow defeat they had suffered in the earlier meeting at Crow Trees. The home side took the field on the back of a 13 match winning sequence but were rocked by conceding a first minute try and at the whistle were hanging onto a 2 point advantage with Blaydon hammering away at their try line.
Overall Hull just about deserved their win on the balance of play but this was an impressive performance by Blaydon who were on top for some long spells.
Hull kicked off and immediately found themselves 7 points adrift when Blaydon caught the ball and moved it quickly through the hands and up to the home 22 where Jack Davidson was given possession, the second row forward outstripping the cover defence to touch down and make it a sensational start. Fly half Jamie Guy landed the conversion and no Hull player had yet touched the ball.
When the home side did get going considerable pressure was applied in the Blaydon 22 and the scores were levelled when Hull winger Keane Naylor was bundled over the line and influential fly-half Simon Humberstone added the extras.
Blaydon were almost in again when Harry Borthwick went clear only to be recalled for a forward pass but then some tremendous defence was needed to keep out the Hull forwards who were encamped in the 22.
By the interval Humberstone had edged Hull in front by 10 points to 7 with his second penalty, and was on target again in the 58th minute. Despite all the Hull pressure however their line breaks had been few and far between and going into the final quarter Blaydon were becoming the dominant force.
With the visitors in charge at the line-outs and the more positive in the loose a second try was secured when Guy kicked a penalty to the corner. Good possession was driven on by the pack and skipper Keith Laughlin rumbled over to make it 13-12 with Guy then kicking Blaydon into the lead.
Inevitably it seemed yet another Humberstone penalty gave the advantage back to Hull but it was the visitors who were closest to scoring in the final minutes.
John Brennan
