Blaydon 52 Kirkby Lonsdale 0
Blaydon 52 Kirkby Lonsdale 0
With just one game remaining Blaydon remain on schedule to clinch the all important runner-up spot in the North Premier League. Yesterdays 6th successive win over a disappointing Kirkby Lonsdale side was never in doubt from the 5th minute onwards when James Cooney, making his 100th appearance for the club, finished off a smart move to secure the first of Blaydon’s 8 tries.
That said however, what happened next was 20 minutes with lots of possession, lots of passing and lots of short scrums but nothing to show for it. Hooker Cam Bell eventually got the scoreboard moving again after Jamie Guy had stormed into the 22, and by the interval centre Alex Clark with blistering pace shot through the visitors defence to make it 19-0.
Just 90 seconds into the second period Guy Graham made a positive break into the 22 to send in Dan Taylor for the 4th try and the only question was how had it taken so long to secure what might be a vital bonus point.
Three minutes later Keith Laughlin, who had been involved in much of the first half pressure, broke from a set-piece to send in wing Jack Appleton for his 16th try of the season.
The try of the game arrived on 47 minutes with full-back Ryan Foreman running from his own 22 to release Cooney who in turn went past his man with ease, and second-row Liam Wright finished it off from 30 metres with the speed of a winger.
The one-sided affair continued and try No7 was scored, a second for Taylor, after much good handling and a bit of juggling, with the scrum-half then laying on the final score for Robert Lenderyou to make it 8 in the game and 140 for the season.
Just as they had in the first period the visitors had a spell on the front foot at the end of the half but all to no avail and they remained pointless at the end, just as they had in the home game between the 2 clubs.
Blaydon now travel to Vale of Lune in 7 days time where success will guarantee a promotion play-off with the second placed side in the Midlands Premier League.
John Brennan
