Harrogate 24, Blaydon RFC 13

After seven bonus point victories in the last eight games, Blaydon were given a reality check when a well organised home side completely dominated play scoring four tries in the process and Blaydon’s only try coming in the final two minutes after first half penalties from Jamie Guy made the score 14 – 6 at half time.

Blaydon opened brightly for the first ten minutes but failed to break down a resolute home defence and gradually the tide turned and hooker Aaron Yorke was driven over after several minutes of forward pressure for Nathan Wyman to add the first of his two conversions.   Immediately after, Jamie Guy reduced the arrears with an easy penalty before Yorke and Wyman combined to add a further seven points.   Guy’s second penalty made it 14 – 6 at the break however in the second half the pattern was the same with Blaydon failing to keep control of the ball when they could not penetrate the well organised home defence.   At this stage, Blaydon’s only player of note was second row Harry Borthwick who several times led charges at the home defence but without support nothing was achieved.   Midway through the half, the home side added a further two tries through second row Sam Brady and No. 8 Jonny Coser.   Towards the end on a rare attack, Blaydon’s Captain Keith Laughlin went over near the corner for Jamie Guy to add the extras and give some respectability to the score.

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