The scoreboard showed Blaydon to be 7-16 down at the break after a half in which the visitors, with the benefit of the referees whistle, held an advantage at scrum and line-out and were overall deserving of their lead.

But by the end however the Blackheath scrum was in complete disarray and in an amazing turnaround Blaydon had ran in 22 points unanswered and were in complete control

“We were so confident throughout, even at half-time. We gave too many penalties away but put some good stuff together and felt if we cut the penalties out in the second half and kept hold of the ball for a few phases we could squeeze them out” said Director of rugby Micky Ward.

Visiting fly-half Fred Gabbitass landed 2 early penalties but Blaydon grabbed the opening try on 23 minutes. A Sean English burst into the 22 had come to naught but when Jason Smithson followed suit soon after scrum-half Rhodri Adamson nipped in to score and Andrew Baggett added the points.

In a Blackheath counter attack the Blaydon defence appeared to stand off expecting a ‘foot in touch flag’ whilst Devin Montgomery ran on to send in Jack Walsh. Gabbittass added the points and then another penalty before the break but that was to be it for the visitors.

On 54 minutes Blaydon lost an attacklng line-out, were almost over but lost possession from another, but Keith Laughlin gathered in the clearance for winger James Cooney to scoot through in fine style.

Bagget added the conversion but his penalty attempt to give Blaydon the lead drifted well wide. Another effort disappointingly rebounded from an upright and this time when Blackheath scrambled it clear Tom Small ran it straight back at them to make it 19-16.

Baggett’s conversion and then a penalty when Blackheath collapsed a scrum in front of their posts put the visitors out of sight, and No8 Gavin Jones put the icing on the cake with a last minute bonus point try from a rolling maul.

John Brennan

Saturday 15th August 1st team squad away to Currie

Saturday 22nd August 1st team squad at home to Ayr

Saturday 29th August 1st team sqaud away to Doncaster

First 1st Team League game at home to Blackheath on 5th September

This week has seen the Blaydon players have a nice week away from the rugby club. Most the lads have been training very hard for the last four weeks and this was a chance to recharge their batteries, as the main rugby part of pre-season will be getting under way next Tuesday the 4th to get the lads ready for our build up to Blackheath on the 5th September. I’m sure are lads will be chomping at the bit.

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Tuesday will give us a chance to see all the lads back in training. Along with the Blaydon regulars we have acquired a few more players.
In the front row we have Sam White a very experienced prop that joins us from Tynedale.

Alex Ruff a former Newcastle Thunder winger.

Rob Rekis, winger England Counties U20’s, Rob joined Blaydon late last season but with other rugby commitments never had a chance to run in the first team.

Frazer Wilson and Tom Grimes are returning from injuries.

James Oritt, James Cooney, Jack Beckwith and Elliot Beattie all coming through from the colts.

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We also have our regular crop of dual registered players from Newcastle.

We have Brett Connon a young fly half who did an outstanding job at Tynedale last season.

Callum Chick a No8 who is the current England U18’s captain.

Ruaridh Dawson a Young quick Scrum half who has played his entire rugby career at Blaydon.

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This years squad has a much more competitive feel to it, when you have players such as of Tom Small and Tom Bramwel or Trevor Davison and Andrew Foster competing for a place this is when selection becomes an interesting debate. With this in mind I can’t wait for 15th August when we have our first run out against Currie.

Our first home fixture this season is against Ayr in our annual fixture the kick off will be at 2.30.