The game started at a fast pace with an early scare for Blaydon when a kick through was adjudged to have been. Touched down by the home team but it was very close.

The fast tempo continued, and a number of Blaydon phases took to them toward Wharfedale’s 22 but the ball spilled out of a contact to Wharfedale winger Hamilton and Blaydon completely off guard and all out expecting the ball to come back their way and Wharfedale winger Rian Hamilton had a long but easy run to the try line.

Blaydon’s reaction was excellent taking the game straight back to Wharfedale and after 8 or 9 phases Dowell passed back inside to Ashman who ran in from 25 metres out to score.

Unfortunately for the home side it wasn’t long before Wharfedale were back on the attack in Blaydon’s 22 and a strong scrum 5 metres out led to an easy try for scrum half Henry McNab.

Again, Blaydon were responding well and building phases well into Wharfedale’s half but a wild miss pass was intercepted by Rian Hamilton for his 2nd try of the game.

Only a few minutes later a poor kick from Blaydon captain Marshall was caught by the gale force wind and found itself in Wharfedale’s left winger Bradley Viner hands who again ran in unopposed.

There was a ten-minute lull in what was a fairly manic first half, but when attacking the Wharfedale line on half way Blaydon lost the ball in contact and the ball found itself in the hands of Wharfedale right winger Hamilton who kicked ahead and won the chase to score his third try.

Half Time: Blaydon 7 v Wharfedale 31

The 2nd half started at a different pace to the first and remained at a stalemate for nearly 30 minutes. Both teams working hard to break each other down but the last pass letting each team down.

The first score was the harsh result of an excellent Blaydon break by Bailey who was well supported by Clark and he took Blaydon deep in the Wharfedale 22 but a loose pass by Scrum half Clarkson found the ball in Rian Hamilton’s hands and he ran in unopposed for his 4^th try of the game.

Finally the 2^nd half sprung into life, and just a few minutes later Blaydon were in the Wharfedale 22 but they had lost possession but this time the generosity was from Wharfedale who threw and interception pass to Jack Appleton for Blaydon’s 2^nd try.

This seemed to rally Blaydon and just 2 minutes later a break by Dan Marshall worked the ball out to debutant Evan Lawther to score his first senior try for Blaydon.

This spell of domination continued and again Blaydon pushed dale back toward their own line, this time with forwards hammering away at the Dale line, and it was Prop Sam Laidler who went over for the home teams 4^th and bonus point try.

On the whole a frustrating afternoon for Blaydon who gifted Wharfedale 4 of their 6 tries.

Full Time: Blaydon 24 v Wharfedale 38

Blaydon: Appleton, Ashman, Marshall, Clark, Lawther, Dowell, Clarkson, Fearn, Chaplin, Dodds, Wright, Charlton, Hall-Lyon, Harrison, Clarke.

Replacements: Winter, Laidler, Phillips, Horsfall, Bailey

Wharfedale: Davidson, Hamilton, Bullough, Blakeney-Edwards, Viner, Davidson, McNab, Beesley, Stockdale, Dickinson, Green, Borrill, Stockton, Carlson, Burridge

Replacements: Altham, Wells, Jackson, Moore, Kaup-Samuels

REFEREE:   Elliott Lewis

ATTENDANCE:  167

STAR MAN:  Wharfedale – Rian Hamilton

Scorers:

Blaydon 

Tries:  Ashman 9, Appleton 74, Lawther 76, Laidler 79

Conversions: Dowell 10, Horsfall 80

Penalties:

Wharfedale

Tries:  Hamilton 6, 17, 36, 70  McNab 14, Viner 21

Conversions: Davidson 7, 18, 22, 71

Penalties:

The game started with 15 minutes of stalemate with the visitors Harrogate controlling possession and territory, without being able to break the Blaydon line. Frustratingly for the home side it took a poor pass from Harrogate scrum half to break the deadlock as full back Jack Haydock gathered the loose ball and fended off some poor Blaydon defence to score.  Scrum half Kit Keith converted.

That try seemed to wake Blaydon up as they quickly found themselves in the Harrogate 22, and some good handling in the backs got the Ball to Dan Marshall. The try was ably converted by Fly Half Jonny Dowell who was making his Blaydon debut.

For the next 20 minutes Blaydon were arguably the better side but a lot of enterprise counted for nothing as the last pass was often forced and Harrogate were let off. Saying Blaydon were the better side, that was apart from at scrum time where Harrogate were dominant.  Most scrums led to the home side being penalised which gave Harrogate good possession, and it was following a Blaydon penalty that Harrogate scored their second try which was a lineout which led to a catch and drive score for Hooker Steven Maycock.

Half time Blaydon 7 – Harrogate 12

Unfortunately for Blaydon the second half started how the first half left off with Harrogate kicking to the corner and driving over for a second try for Maycock which was again unconverted.

The next 15 minutes was played in Blaydon’s half with some resolute Blaydon defence stopping Harrogate scoring again but eventually centre Sam Fox crossed for Harrogate’s Bonus point try, this time converted by Keith.

Blaydon finally sparked into life and found themselves in the Harrogate 22 for the first time in the second half. Waves of attack ensued and eventually Drew Thompson went over for Blaydon’s 2nd try but Dowell missed the conversion.

There was still a glimmer of hope and Blaydon continued to look lively but errors when hammering away at the Harrogate line cost Blaydon some good opportunities with the line begging.

Harrogate then put the final nail in Blaydon’s coffin, taking the game from their own line to Blaydon’s 22 and in what was the last play of the game, scrum half Kit Keith scored in the corner.  This was a bad end to a miserable afternoon for Blaydon with Harrogate deserved winners.

Full Time Blaydon 12 – Harrogate 29

Blaydon: Appleton, Mongan, Marshall, Ashman, Cooney, Dowell, Clarkson, Dodds, Chaplin, Thompson, Phillips, Laughlin, Varley, Harrison, Clarke.

Replacements: Winter, Gray, Charlton, Clark, Horsfall

Harrogate: Haydock, Barnard, Cummins, Fox, Yates, Yates, Keith, Percival, Maycock, Dennis, Kitching, Brady, Coser, Dodds, Coser

Replacements: Harrison, Wurzal, Thompson, Raubitschek, Edwards

REFEREE:   Nikki O’Donnell

ATTENDANCE:  271

STAR MAN:  Harrogate’s Steven Maycock

Scorers:

Blaydon  12

Tries:  Marshall 17, Thompson 67

Conversions: Dowell 18

Penalties:

Harrogate 29

Tries:  Haydock 12, Maycock 36, 44, Fox 61, Keith 80

Conversions: Keith 13, 62

Penalties: