Sheffield Tigers 26, Blaydon 34

Blaydon picked up another vital 5 points when they completed the double over Sheffield Tigers to put some clear water between themselves and the bottom three.

In a highly entertaining encounter they dominated from the start and wrapped up a try scoring bonus point within the half-hour only to see the roles reversed in the second period.
Going into the last 5 minutes they were holding onto a slender 5 points lead but the reliable Tom Catterick who had converted all the tries put over a penalty to seal an important victory.
It was a Catterick penalty that also got the scoreboard moving in the 2nd minute following an offside and heralded a 20 minute spell of Blaydon territory and possession. Flanker Rob Lenderyou grabbed the first try when he completed a move that had started on half-way and was soon followed by skipper Keith Laughlin with an almost identical effort.
Winger James Cooney and Catterick combined to release Dan Marshall for try No3 and make it 0-24 but the home side in what was their first attack pulled back 7 points when they were awarded a penalty try.
Nathan Bailey restored the Blaydon advantage when he finished off a spell of pressure in the home 22 but the Tigers struck again right on the interval with a mazy run and try from Tom Hart, converted by their fly-half Alan Farrell.
Sheffield kicked off in the second period but the Blaydon clearance was charged down by Farrell who had a simple run-in and added the conversion himself, and 7-31 had become 21-31. Worse was to follow for the visitors when prolonged pressure on their line resulted in a Brackley try, but some determined defence maintained a narrow lead until Catterick’s late penalty.

John Brennan