Wilmslow 5 Blaydon 38
A first half hat-trick by winger Jack Appleton put Blaydon comfortably on the road to a 3rd consecutive victory but after racking up a 31 points lead made very little of their advantage in the second period.
Facing a Wilmslow side on an 8 match losing run the visitors stormed into a 10th minute lead when Appleton got possession from a flowing move and found himself confronted by 3 defenders but beat them all on route to the line, Jamie guy converting.
On 15 minutes the lead was doubled by centre Dan Marshall who intercepted on half-way to race clear and give Guy another simple conversion kick. Lots of forward pressure then led to a 3rd score, the move finished off by Appleton, who then crossed for his hat-trick and the bonus point try on 26 minutes when finishing off another smart handling movement that started in the Blaydon half.
Guy again added the extras and at the break it was 0-26 with the home side having made very little impact. Five minutes into the second half hooker Cameron Bell added a 5th try from a catch and drive but with the game effectively won by that point Blaydon seemingly lost concentration and wasted a number of scoring opportunities.
When the visitors lost possession on half-way Wilmslow took full advantage with their fly-half Brendan McCullum scoring a fine individual try to bring it back to 5-31 but Blaydon should have been much further ahead.
Nathan Bailey did secure a 6th Blaydon try when he finished off a move in which he had twice been involved, Guy landing his 4th conversion, to complete the scoring in what had been a disappointing second half.
John Brennan
