Plymouth Albion 45 Blaydon 0

It was hardly a surprise that Blaydon failed to win at Brickfields, the Plymouth side sitting comfortably in second spot in the table and looking for a 9th win on the bounce, but unfortunately on the day they arrived with a side already badly depleted by injuries only to be hit with a catastrophic sequence of events.
The deficit at half-time was only 5-0 but players were constantly being replaced, some with potentially serious injury, and going into the final quarter all substitutes had been used and a hooker who had gone off was back on and playing at centre.
Four tries were conceded in the last 20 minutes as the Blaydon defiance finally crumbled and weary bodies were over-run and out on their feet.
Plymouth skipper and No8 Michael Stupple scored their opener when he gained possession 10 metres out to power his way over in the 21st minute but the visitors had their moments, particularly a stirring break by Jack Davidson and then a catch and drive that was penalised just short.
Lock forward Sam Holmes added try No2 four minutes into the second period after being released by a neat inside pass, and winger Matt Crosscombe ran in 2 more scores, Plymouth piling on the pressure as Blaydon wilted.
The score then escalated near the end with Blaydon now contributing to their own downfall by attempting to run from their own 22 and handing a breakaway pass to the opposition and then repeating the error at a scrum. Harvey Skinner and man-of-the-match Matt Shepherd were the players to take advantage, the latter finishing the scoring with the last of his 5 conversions.
The only good news on a disappointing day was the defeat of their fellow contenders for the unwanted second relegation position and so the league positions remain unchanged.

John Brennan