Match Report – Blaydon 59, Doncaster Phoenix 12
Whilst the game may have been kicked off by Doncaster beneath a steely sky, the sun was soon going to shine on Blaydon RFC.
For the first 15 minutes the teams were evenly matched, which with Doncaster’s win over the league leaders the previous week in mind, bode well for Blaydon.
On 18 minutes Blaydon were awarded a penalty just inside the Doncaster half which Dan Marshall kicked nicely to the Doncaster 5 metre line. The lineout, which started well, the way it was to go on, was taken nicely by Turnbull, and after a brief maul, Ethan Clarke went over for his first of 4. The try was converted well, by the youngster, Rory Foster. Not soon after Doncaster had restarted, 2 minutes in fact, Blaydon were on the attack again, this time, that old stalwart Alex Clark, bursting through the defence and driving Blaydon up he pitch. The ball was passed out to Jack Appleton who happily obliged and scored the try. Once again converted by the safe kicking of Foster. 14-0 Blaydon.
Again, the game went into a period of evenly matched play, error count edging towards Doncaster, but after a Blaydon ruck, and after some excellent interplay between forwards and backs, Clark went over for his second out wide on 28 minutes. Despite a wonderful strike of the ball, it hit the post and the try went unconverted.
The first half ended 19-0 to Blaydon at half-time.
As the second was kicked off by Marshall, the sun really did begin to shine, both in reality, and metaphorically. Doncaster collected the ball and kicked it back towards the half-way line. Blaydon took possession from the line-out and great individual play from Lewis Williams saw him go over to make the score, once converted by the ever-reliable Foster, 26-0. Blaydon then went on the rampage, and it was as if Doncaster had thrown in the towel.
Tries from Alex Clark, two more from Ethan Clark, one each for John Clarkson and Kevin Slow, all converted by Rory Foster topped off a wonderful display.
Whilst Doncaster scored two consolation tries, late in the game, it had been a stern lesson for the away team.
Blaydon’s back row trio of Matty Jenkinson, Ollie Dynan and Ethan Clark were dominant in the loose, our tight 5 held its own in the scrum with Turnbull outstanding in the lineout. The handling in the backs looked well drilled, and our half-back combination of Clarkson and Marshall worked well.
It was great to see a young Blaydon side playing so well and so confidently.
Final Score Blaydon 59-12 Doncaster Phoenix
The Grey Crow
