Morpeth 12 – Blaydon 34
🔴⚫️ Match Report 🔴⚫️ Morpeth 12 – 34 Blaydon
Paying their first visit to Mitford Road for 20 years a well drilled Blaydon side aided by a large following support came away with another 5 point victory despite going behind in the opening 2 mins following a messy first scrum which saw the referee award Morpeth a penalty try.
Not to be dismayed, the visitors immediately went up field and following a couple of darts up the middle, the ball was passed to James Cooney who beat off two tacklers and ran in from 15 metres to score a fine try which Ryan Foreman added the first of his 3 conversions. At this stage the home pack was dominating proceedings and a missed Blaydon tackle in the centre (the only one of the game) saw Captain Carl Hill put the home side 5 points up after 20 minutes. However, at this stage with Captain Jack Davidson and Harry Borthwick coming to the fore, Blaydon began to stretch the home defence and firstly Cam Bell was driven over and then Davidson himself with the help of his dominant pack. Neither try was converted with one conversion hitting the post but now in the lead, Blaydon never looked like being overtaken.
After the interval, despite winning good possession, the home side made poor use and Blaydon utilized the ball well and with their backs continually stretching the home defence, they were completely in charge and following another turnover on the half way line, good hands saw Dan Marshall break through once more, drawing the home full back and giving unselfishly Harry Borthwick a run in between the posts for another 7 pointer. The introduction of substitute Jack Appleton on the hour saw Blaydon inject speed on the wing and following his first touch of the ball, he ran strongly and cleverly kicked over the opposition for Marshall to gather the bouncing ball and widen the gap with a fine try which was duly converted by Foreman.
With Blaydon running down the clock, the home side, lacking possession, were unable to get field advantage and once again Blaydon’s backs swept upfield and were awarded an easy penalty in front of the posts which Foreman added 3 points.
The satisfying result sees Blaydon consolidate second place in the table and next week they have a home game kicking off at 2.15.p.m. against bottom club Ilkley who despite some close results, have only won 1 game this season and have a points differential of 127 – 274, the highest in the league.
Jim Huxley
