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
1st Team Match Reports
Blaydon will play Luctonians away on 27th April, winner takes the final promotion spot to National Two North
Blaydon and Harrogate both take maximum points in the play off race, while Billingham lose at Alnwick with 2 games to go.
Midland Premier – Luctonians still in 2nd place
Blaydon secure maximum points and move ahead of Harrogate who beat leaders Hull and with Billingham taking maximum points at Vale of Lune, the playoff spot is still a 3 horse race with Blaydon needing to secure maximum points from their last 3 games to ensure they finish in that spot.
Photos by Stephen Billington
Blaydon playoff campaign was dealt a big blow yesterday in a game where things just went against us; we lost 2 props so had to play with 14 players, (not being allowed to put on a sub when we went uncontested) a gale was blowing across the pitch so a penalty hit the post, we lost possession too cheaply in opposition 22 and then lost to the last play of the game.
Credit to Billingham their defence was good as Blaydon dominated possession and territory.
The playoff spot is now 3 team race with Harrogate coming into the mix, with Billingham holding the initiative, both Billingham and Harrogate have to play Hull. Blaydon have no remaining fixtures against top 4 teams, so Blaydon are not out of this yet
5 point win for Blaydon RFC puts us back in playoff spot, as Billingham Lose at Wirral
Blaydon give up second place with a loss away at Harrogate
Match report
Harrogate 24 Blaydon 13
Blaydon opened brightly for the first ten minutes but failed to break down a resolute home defence and gradually the tide turned and hooker Aaron Yorke was driven over after several minutes of forward pressure for Nathan Wyman to add the first of his two conversions. Immediately after, Jamie Guy reduced the arrears with an easy penalty before Yorke and Wyman combined to add a further seven points. Guy’s second penalty made it 14 – 6 at the break however in the second half the pattern was the same with Blaydon failing to keep control of the ball when they could not penetrate the well organised home defence. At this stage, Blaydon’s only player of note was second row Harry Borthwick who several times led charges at the home defence but without support nothing was achieved. Midway through the half, the home side added a further two tries through second row Sam Brady and No. 8 Jonny Coser. Towards the end on a rare attack, Blaydon’s Captain Keith Laughlin went over near the corner for Jamie Guy to add the extras and give some respectability to the score.
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