Blaydon 36, Ilkley 10
Despite conceding a 3rd minute try Blaydon never remotely looked like losing and with a considerable advantage at both scrum and line-out went on to run-in 6 tries unopposed. Their Yorkshire visitors had a reasonable share of possession but ran most of it laterally and into the hands of a solid Blaydon defensive line, and more often than not were unable to guarantee their own ball at the set-pieces.
The home defence were however caught napping by an early Ilkley raid down the left, finished off nicely by left-wing Struan Connor, and took 5 minutes to respond. It came in the form of a line-out drive finished off by hooker Cameron Bell, and was then followed by 2 more first half efforts.
Jack Davidson stormed into the Ilkley 22 on 20 minutes, an infringement followed, Blaydon opted for the scrum and promptly drove the visitors backwards for Keith Laughlin to touch down and Jamie Guy add the extras.
Another prolonged attack saw the ball moved one way and then the other until a long pass went out to Frazer Wilson who charged the line to set up a score for Davidson and make it 17-5 at the break.
The pattern continued and 4 minutes into the second period Laughlin, who as usual was ‘everywhere’ in the loose led a line-out break only to be stopped short. Prop forward Anthony Harvey was next to attack the line but likewise was held up and finally centre Alex Clark went over near the posts for the bonus try, Guy converting.
Try No5 started typically started with the visitors being robbed of their scrum ball leading to much possession in the Ilkley 22, Matt Jenkinson held up over the line before Laughlin touched down for his second and 2 more points for Guy.
In the closing minutes Blaydon were still looking dangerous and when Wilson was given possession just outside the 22 the right-wing simply put his head down and charged full pelt at the visitors line and went over despite the attentions of 3 defenders.
Having done little else since the 3rd minute the visitors at least had the satisfaction of also having the last word when No8 Sam Waddington scored in the final play.
John Brennan
