Blaydon RFC 11 v 29 Huddersfield RFC
Blaydon RFC were well beaten by a resolute Huddersfield side who took their opportunities extremely well running in 4 tries to Blaydon’s 1. In terms of possession Blaydon played three quarters of the game in the Huddersfield 22 but mistakes, poor decisions, indiscipline and strong Huddersfield defence meant that time and again Blaydon failed to capitalise on field position and possession.
The game started fairly evenly with the first points going to Blaydon through Fly Half Ryan Foreman who kicked a penalty from his own half way line. Unfortunately for Blaydon he went off injured shortly afterwards, which was in the build up to the first try of the game for Huddersfield. The try was started with a break from their own 22 by Fly Half Joe Potter. Blaydon failed to kick to touch which led to the ball being spread out wide to Hooker, Liam Stapely, who ran in uncontested. The try was converted by Milner, who quickly added a penalty a few minutes later to take the score to 10-3.
The rest of the first half was played with Blaydon in the ascendency but a lot of pressure only resulted in another penalty, this time by Scrum Half Clarkson, taking the score to 10-6 at half time.
The 2nd half started as the first half ended with Blaydon attacking the Huddersfield line but each time Huddersfield were able to clear their lines, due to Blaydon errors and solid defence. After one such clearance Huddersfield mounted their first attack of the half and some strong direct running by 2nd Row Pearson led to an easy try for Huddersfield blind side Liam Parfitt, converted by Milner.
Blaydon returned to attacking the Huddersfield line but it took them 15 minutes and some sharp thinking by Ashman taking a quick line out to Nathan Bailey to put in Clarkson to cross the line for what turned out to be Blaydon’s only try of the game.
That was Blaydon’s last score, but Huddersfield however were not finished and went on to add an opportunist try by scrum half Mason, which was a typical scrum half break from the base of a ruck on the Blaydon 22 which the home side should have defended better.
Then the visitors final try of the game went to Man of the Match number 8 Lewis Bradley who rounded off a very good away day for Huddersfield with a try from close range following another Blaydon mistake when trying to score from inside their own 22.
Full Time Score: Blaydon 11 – 29 Huddersfield
Referee: Ben Rayner
Attendance: 232
Half Time Score Blaydon 6 – 11 Huddersfield
Man of the Match: Lewis Bradley
Line ups:
| 15 | Nathan Bailey | 15 | Lewis Workman |
| 14 | Jake Richards | 14 | Arthur Wilkinson |
| 13 | Jonny Ashman | 13 | Matt Law |
| 12 | Alex Clark (Capt) | 12 | Will Milner |
| 11 | Jack Appleton | 11 | Cameron Catleugh |
| 10 | Ryan Foreman | 10 | Joe Potter |
| 9 | John Clarkson | 9 | Jonny Mason |
| 1 | Drew Thompson | 1 | Callum Thompson |
| 2 | Michael Newstead | 2 | Liam Stapley |
| 3 | Elliott Beattie | 3 | Jack Smith |
| 4 | Liam Wright | 4 | Luke Pearson |
| 5 | Austin Phillips | 5 | Nick Sharpe |
| 6 | Keith Laughlin | 6 | Liam Parfitt |
| 7 | Ethan Hall | 7 | Jacob Glover |
| 8 | Ethan Clarke | 8 | Lewis Bradley (Capt) |
| 16 | Danny Gray | 16 | Leighton Davies |
| 17 | Alex Dodds | 17 | John Sedgwick |
| 18 | Ryan Kirkbride | 18 | Aaron Brook |
| 19 | Ethan Hall-Lyon | 19 | |
| 20 | Jonathan Devereux | 20 |
Scorers:
Blaydon
Tries: Clarkson 69
Conversions:
Penalties: Foreman 2, Clarkson 33
Huddersfield
Tries: Stapely 15, Parfitt 53, Mason 72, Bradley 78
Conversions: Milner 16, 54, 73
Penalties: Milner 29
