1st Team Match Reports

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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

 

 

 

Match Report – Blaydon RFC V York RFC 9th December 2023

Match Report – Blaydon RFC V York RFC 9th December 2023

Slightly different conditions greeted both teams as they took to the pitch at Crowtrees. The reverse fixture, back in September, had seen the game played in a temperature of over 30 degrees. Today’s game also signified the half-way point in the 2023-24 campaign.

Blaydon got the game underway, kicking to York’s 22-metre line. York kicked the ball to touch, with Blaydon securing their first lineout. After a number of attacking phases, Blaydon got the ball over the half-way line, Blaydon gave a forward pass giving York the first scrum of the game. A pick-up and drive by York’s 8 resulted in a York penalty for a high tackle. The resulting kick gave York a lineout on Blaydon’s 10 metre line which Blaydon stole and Dynan drove well up-field. Unfortunately, a knock-on ended our boys progress giving York a scrum. Whilst the Blaydon scrum looked solid the   awarded a penalty which York kicked into the Blaydon half. From the resulting lineout, Shackleton, the York Fly-Half, made great space, throwing an outrageous dummy, which even the crowd fell for, and ran in to score the first try on 8 minutes which he also went onto convert.

Blaydon restarted, and York received the ball and kicked it back mid-way. Blaydon secured their own lineout and carried the ball back into York’s half and Blaydon were awarded a penalty, which Gough kicked into touch. Lineout secured, Clarkson darted up the pitch. Another Blaydon penalty and another Blaydon lineout sees a slick handling move and young Forster, making his first team debut, dotted down for Blaydon’s first, and unfortunately, unconverted try.

Despite resolute defence by Blaydon’s tight five, and some good penetrative runs from the likes of Milkes and Dynan, the majority of the first half went York’s way. York’s set-piece worked well allowing their half-backs to combine and release their backs resulting in tries on both 23 and 26 minutes, both converted by Shackleton, who would go on to be Yorks’s man of the match, and, arguably difference in the teams.

At the break, the score stood at Blaydon 5 York 21.

York got the second half underway, with a wintery sun just starting to shine through, giving hope to the home crowds spirits. The resulting kick-off was secured by Barry and Blaydon took the ball back to the mid-way point before the Referee awarded a penalty to Blaydon for a high tackle, which was kicked to the York 22 metre line, to a fantastic attacking position. Unfortunately, despite making sure of our own line out, a handling mistake in mid-field gave York a scrum.

After an awful lot of back-and-forth play between both sides 22 metre lines, York found themselves with a penalty close to the Blaydon try line. Blaydon’s defence was incredibly impressive and seized upon a York error, ending up with our Red boys moving the ball back up-field and securing a line-out on the York 22 metre line. The line-out won, and the ruck was formed, Blaydon trundled over with Daz Fearns securing the try, duly converted by Gough with 56 minutes gone. At this point it looked like the fight back was on.

However, York had a different agenda, aiming to stay at the top of Regional 1 North East, and turned on the pressure. Eager for the bonus point score, and after some good phase play, they achieved that wish after 65 minutes, via Atkinson and converted by Shackleton.

Following the kick-off Blaydon exerted a good period of pressure, a yellow card for a York defender, and a well taken try by Coates on 73 minutes, unfortunately unconverted, made the score 17-28.

Unfortunately, one more well-constructed, and converted score, three minutes from time, ensured the win for York.

Final Score Blaydon 17 York 35

The Winning Home Run Continues

Blaydon V Sandal 18/11/2023

 

A beautiful autumnal afternoon greeted both teams as they ran onto the Crowtrees AGP surface. A perfect setting for what hopefully would be fast flowing rugby.

 

The previous three encounters had seen high scoring games, with Blaydon edging it two to one.

 

Dan Marshall got Blaydon underway with Sandal receiving the ball on the 20 metre line and taking it into a ruck. The ball soon found its way into the hands of Blaydon’s Milkes who made a darting run in the first minute taking the ball deep into the Sandal half before passing to Barry who took the ball to ground. Sandal managed to turn the ruck over and a kicking contest saw Blaydon with a lineout just outside the Sandal 20 metre line. The lineout resulted in a Blaydon penalty which Clarkson took quickly, putting the ball into Dynan’s hands who went over the line for Blaydon’s first score on 4 minutes, unconverted.

 

 

From the kick off Blaydon’s Coates cleared the ball up to half-way. A scrappy lineout saw the ball in Clarkson’s hands who made a clean break into the Sandal half only to be brought down by a last-ditch tap tackle. Sandal then gave away a penalty on their own 5 metre line, which Blaydon took quickly only to give away a penalty of their own for holding on, giving Sandal a chance to clear their lines.

The next 15 minutes saw the game played between both 20 metre lines with both the error and penalty count steadily increasing. From a lineout resulting from one of these penalties, slick Blaydon hands saw Appleton appear on his opposite wing and make ground into the opposition half which resulted in a Blaydon penalty which Marshall kicked to touch. The lineout was lost but a handling error by the Sandal lock saw the ball go back into touch. Again, Blaydon lost the ball from their lineout. Good defence and Blaydon won a penalty on their 10 metre line, which was cleared to half -way. The lineout was secured, and the ball moved to midfield where Blaydon were awarded a penalty which Marshall kicked to within 10 metres of the Sandal line. The lineout was secured, and the ball passed out to Dynan who broke and put the ball in Clarke’s hands who went over for Blaydon’s second try on 19 minutes, which Clarkson converted.

After a number of penalties following the restart, Blaydon moved the ball up-field with some great phase play and a deft kick over the defence by Marshall, resulting in a 5 metre scrum to Blaydon. From the scrum, the ball was moved wide, Marshall delayed a pass to Coates, wrong-footing the defender, Coates then popped the ball back to Marshall for a great try that went unconverted.

 

More penalties were exchanged, before Sandal decided to look to put points on the board with a penalty kick in front of the posts just before half time. H-T 17-3.

 

Sandal got us underway for the second half, which started pretty much in the same vein as the first, with entertaining runs along with penalties and turnovers from both sides.

 

After some attacking play Blaydon found themselves with a penalty midway in the Sandal half which Marshall kicked to touch. Blaydon then won a penalty from the resulting lineout and the Sandal 6 received a yellow card. Blaydon were subsequently awarded a series of penalties from reset scrums, but the penalty try was not forthcoming. After a frustrating number of resets, Blaydon’s Clarke picked up at the base and drove for the line, but Blaydon were held up. The resulting Sandal goal line dropout was caught by Blaydon’s Stamper who quickly got the ball along the backline to Dynan, who

danced past a couple of defenders to go in for his second score, which Clarkson successfully converted. Blaydon 24-3 Sandal.

 

After the Sandal restart, the Referee was again busy handing out penalties to either side. Blaydon even being marched back at one point for ill-discipline.

 

After some determined play, Sandal, scored a consolation try on 70 minutes by Stewart converted by Hodson. Shortly after, Blaydon then won a penalty in front of Sandal’s post which Clarkson kicked easily.

 

76 minutes saw the try of the game, Mikles and Appleton combined for a scintillating run down the left wing, with some wonderful interplay, resulting in Appleton having a clear run in to score Blaydon’s fifth try. A tough kick went unconverted.

 

Full time Blaydon 32, Sandal 10

 

Man of the Match – Ollie Dynan

 

The Grey Crow

Lots to be proud of but Blaydon lose again!!

Fylde started on the front foot from the kick off and after 5 mins of building numerous phases number 8 David Fairbrother went over in the corner.  Fly half Greg Smith was unlucky as he hit the post with the conversion.

Blaydon’s response was strong and from a midfield scrum they went right to James Cooney and then quickly recycled and spun it out left and winger Jonny Ashman took play to the Fylde 22 and a clever off-load was picked up by centre Zach Thompson to score out wide. Scrum half John Clarkson’s conversion was unsuccessful.

The next 25 minutes went by with both teams playing positive rugby and testing the oppositions defence but each time either team got momentum they made a mistake, so they were cancelling each other out with good well organised defence.  Frustratingly for the home side, on 33 minutes Fylde sprung to life through centre Sam Stott who ran a strong line through the Blaydon defence and full back Jordan Dorrington was on hand to take his path and score. Greg Smith converting this time.

 

Blaydon’s response was immediate and Replacement Full back Lewis Williams made a good break from inside his own half and his Kick ahead took play to the Fylde 5m line and a few forward drives later Hooker Charlie Smith went over the line to score. John Clarkson added the extras.

 

Half time Blaydon 12 v Fylde 12

 

The 2nd half started where both teams finished the 2nd with both teams playing positive attacking rugby. On 49 minutes a number of Blaydon penalties took Fylde to the Blaydon line and eventually Greg Smith went over in the corner much to the frustration of the home side who had seen a clear knock on in the build-up to the try, Smith failed to convert his own try.

The game turned at this point and it seemed so did  Blaydon’s luck and to an extent their composure, and on 57minutes with Blaydon now down to 13 men thanks to 2 yellow cards. Replacement centre / prop Scott Rawlings went through a stretched Blaydon defence to score unopposed. Smith converted.

 

Blaydon fought valiantly for the next 20 minutes and were pushing hard to be the next scorer but errors cost Blaydon field position and shortly after another Blaydon yellow card, Fylde Centre Connor Wilkinson went over for a try in the last play of the game. Greg smith converting

This was a harsh end to what was a good performance by the home side, some great intensity in defence and some strong attacking play by the backs. However we come away from the game with nothing apart from a feeling that if we can play with that level of effort and enterprise again against teams further down the table, we will surely start picking up points.

 

Full Time: Blaydon 12 v Fylde 31 

 

Blaydon: Bailey, Ashman, Cooney (C ), Thompson, Obonna, Dowell, Clarkson, Siddle, Smith, Dodds, Barry, Phillips, Turnbull, Roy, Hall-Lyon

Replacements:  Sanderson, Rewcastle, Leggetter, Douglas, Williams

 

Fylde: Dorrington, Turner, Wilkinson, Stott, Grimes, Smith, Potts, Barrow, Gregory (C ), Bowker, Parkinson, Corry, Harrison, Higginson, Fairbrother (C)

Replacements:  Parker, Higgins, Garrod, Lanigan, Rawlings

 

REFEREE:   Daniel Woods

ATTENDANCE:  205

STAR MAN:   Fylde – Greg Smith

 

Scorers:

Blaydon  12

Tries:     Thompson 10, Smith 34

Conversions:  Clarkson 35

Penalties:

 

Fylde 31

Tries:            Fairbrother 4, Dorrington 30, Smith 49, Rawlings 57 Wilkinson 79

Conversions:  Smith 31, 58, 80

Penalties:

BRFCvNU2022

Rotherham start 2023 on a high at Crow Trees!!

Blaydon started extremely quickly stretching the play left and right working their way to the Rotherham 22metre line where a handling error by the a Rotherham forward gave Blaydon Scrum Half John Clarkson the ball, and he chipped over the only defender to score. He easily converted his own score.

 

5 minutes later, the Clarkson show continued, following a scrum on the halfway line, Clarkson took it blind from the base and Rotherhams defence were not awake, he ghosted past the full back to score wide out, this time missing the conversion.

 

Rotherham had the upper hand in the scrum and were being awarded penalties each time they had the put in.  As a result they were getting a lot of ball in the Blaydon half and after 10 minutes of pressure Blaydon lost Nathan Bailey to a yellow card. A few phases later Rotherham right wing Jack Hedley went over unopposed. Centre Richard Hayes adding the extras.

 

Frustratingly 5 minutes later another scrum was demolished by the Rotherham pack and they got the ball out wide and again Jack Hedley scored this time cutting back inside, the try was again converted by Hayes.

 

Rotherham were gaining the ascendency and scored again on half time, this time a clever cross field kick to left winger Jack Taylor. Hayes this time missing the conversion.

 

Half Time: Blaydon 12 – 19 Rotherham

 

Rotherham picked up where they left off in the first half and a good run by 2nd row Matt Challinor, was well supported by the backs who fed in winger Jack Hedley for his Hat trick and another converted try.

 

Blaydon responded well, quick thinking by replacement a scrum Half, Ben Douglos who took play to the Rotherham 22. The ball was spun out and a pass behind him forced replacement fly half Zach Thompson back to the forwards but they were not expecting it and he went straight through them to score. He then converted his own try as Clarkson had been substituted.

 

The game ebbed and flowed for 10 minutes but on 62 Minutes a good move in the Rotherham backs which was debatably obstructing the Blaydon defender led to a converted try for Scrum Half Sam Boxhall.

 

Blaydon responded well and were hammering away at the Rotherham line, however just when the home side were anticipating getting back in the game, the away side Scrum Half intercepted a Ben Douglas pass and went the length of the field to score. Its hard to understand how he wasn’t offside given the ground he had to cover to take the pass but it went unpunished.  Hayes converted to put the knife in the home sides slim hopes of snatching something from the game.

 

Rotherham scored again in what turned out to be the final play of the game as they went blind from a scrum and the home defence was none-existent, this time replacement back row Callum Bustin the scorer, again converted by Hayes.

 

The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the performance and had we scored when Boxhall controversially intercepted the score would have then been 26 – 33 not 19 – 40.

 

Full Time: Blaydon 19 v Rotherham 47

 

Blaydon: Bailey, Ashman, Cooney, Greenlaw, Appleton, Marshall (C), Clarkson, Appleby, Smith, Dodds, Barry, Phillips, Wright, Roy, Hall-Lyon

Replacements:  Siddle, Sanderson, Turnbull, Douglas, Thompson

 

Rotherham: Veall, Hedley, Taylor, Hayes, Sableman-Blue, Dever, Boxhall, Capps, Bermanas, Denman, Challinor, Allan, Payne, Kay, Poole (C)

Replacements:  Newborn, Rylance, Bustin, Nwoshu-Hope, Ollivent

 

REFEREE:   Dave Charlton

ATTENDANCE:  232

STAR MAN:  Rotherham – Jack Hedley

 

Scorers:

Blaydon  19

Tries:    Clarkson 3, 11, Thompson 46

Conversions:  Clarkson 4, Thompson 47

Penalties:

 

Rotherham 47

Tries:            Hedley 25, 30, 43 Taylor 39, Boxhall 62, 71 Bustin 79

Conversions:  Hayes 26, 31, 44, 63, 72, 80

Penalties:

Tynedale Match Postponed – Frozen Pitch

The First XV fixture scheduled for this Saturday away at Tynedale RFC has been postponed like many others throughout the country due to a frozen pitch!

Please don’t despair however as the planned Second XV match between the two sides has been switched to the AGP at Blaydon RFC, kick off 1.30pm (subject to a pitch inspection tomorrow morning).

Pop along and continue with the Xmas festivities and support the lads.

Grasshoppers share the spoils at Crow Trees!!!

Preston Grasshoppers started the stronger of the two teams. And on 9 minutes a break by their fly half Will Hunt took the play into the Blaydon 22. A few phases later a clever grubber by Hunt put in winger Will Clapham to score under the posts which full back Ben Pearson easily added the conversion.

 

Blaydon responded well from the kick off and a Preston penalty led to a kick to the corner. The Blaydon catch and drive was good and hooker Danny Gray was in control of the ball when they crossed the line. Blaydon Scrum Half John Clarkson added a good conversion from wide out.

 

The next score came from a poor Blaydon kick which fed the Preston left winger Tyler spence who carried into the Blaydon 22 and then he fed in hooker Chris Taylor who carried the ball 20 metres to score. Pearson missed the conversion.

 

Blaydon responded well and after 5-10 minutes of pressure, Ralph Appleby Blaydon Number 8 took the ball to just short of the line and Darren Barry was on hand following up to get the ball down just over the line from 1 metre out. Clarkson easily converted.

 

Frustratingly for home team an error on 30 minutes triggered an excellent Preston counter and their  openside Ben Dorrington took them from their own 22 to deep inside the Blaydon half. The ball was quickly recycled and it was spun wide and a good line ran by centre Jacob Browne was enough to cut open Blaydon’s scrambled defence and he went in from 30 metres out completely untouched, Pearson converted.

 

The theme of each team taking turns alternate scoring continued and a good Blaydon break was deliberately interrupted by a Preston front row in an offside position and because it was on the stoke of half time and right in front of the posts, Blaydon opted to take 3 points courtesy of the boot of Clarkson.

 

Half Time: Blaydon 17 v Preston Grasshoppers 19

 

2nd half started badly for Blaydon where they were demolished in the first few scrums leading to string of penalties in the Blaydon half but luckily Pearson missed his first penalty attempt at goal but made no mistake with the 2nd attempt.

 

The remainder of the 2nd half was very scrappy to say the least with Blaydon edging things territorially and on a few occasions knocking on when hammering away with their forwards at the Preston line.  Eventually on 75 minutes Blaydon crossed the Preston line through a driving maul from a 5 metre line out this time replacement hooker Charlie Smith had the ball in his hands as they rumbled over the line. Frustratingly for the home side the conversion from 15 metres wide of the posts was missed by Clarkson to win the game.

Full Time: Blaydon 22 v Preston Grasshoppers 22

Blaydon: Bailey, Bourne, Obonna, Cooney, Appleton, Marshall (C), Clarkson, Dodds, Gray, Rewcastle, Dodds, Barry, Phillips, Wright , Hall-Lyon, Appleby

Replacements: Siddle, Smith, Roy, Stamper, Greenwood

Preston Grasshopper: Pearson, Spence, Browne, Swarbrick, Clapham, Hunt, Moulding, Mabaya, Taylor, Trippier, Murray, Naylor, Riley, Dorrington, Richardson

Replacements: Thompson, Orry, Jones, Squirrell, Gosling

REFEREE:   Michael Harris

ATTENDANCE:  215

STAR MAN:  Preston Grasshoppers – Will Hunt

Scorers:

Blaydon   22

Tries:              Gray 10, Barry 26 , Smith 74

Conversions:  Clarkson 11, 27

Penalties:      Clarkson 39

Preston Grasshoppers 22

Tries:                      Clapham 5, Taylor 19, Browne 32

Conversions:           Pearson 6, 33

Penalties:                Pearson 48

BLAYDON FINALLY KICK START THEIR SEASON!!

Blaydon started brightly and quickly found themselves camped in the right corner of the Sheffield 22 and after 5 minutes of numerous 5m line outs, scrums and phases of pressure, the Sheffield defence eventually broke as Darren Barry got the over the line from barely 6 inches out. Fly half Zach Thompson kicked the conversion.
The next 10 minutes passed without much excitement, but Blaydon continued to dominate possession and were playing very much on the front foot and on 18 minutes from a good attack down the left wing led to Number 8 Ethan Clarke being held up over the line. However, the subsequent Sheffield goal line drop was charged down by Will Varley and the ball was recovered by Blaydon 2nd row Austin Phillips. The ball was quickly recycled then passed out left and a clever and well weighted grubber kick by Centre Ewan Greenlaw was touched down by Alex Charlton, this time conversion was unsuccessful.
A Blaydon penalty on halfway gave Sheffield a good kick which gave them a line out on the Blaydon 22 and a few phases later Sheffield number 8 Alex Bawdry picked the ball up from what appeared to be an off side position in a maul but it went unnoticed by the officials and he went in under the posts. The conversion was easily kicked by Scrum Half Elliot Fisher.
Blaydon responded immediately from the kick off as 2nd row Darren Barry won the jump contest from the kick off and the ball went through a few phases before it was passed to Ethan Clarke who smashed through 2 or 3 defenders to score. Zach Thompson easily converting.
Frustratingly for Blaydon on the stroke of half time Sheffield ran a good move in their backs which fed in winger Matt Adcock who took play to 10 metres out from inside his own half. A couple of phases later the ball was passed to out back to Adcock who scored wide out. Fisher missed the conversion.
Half Time Blaydon 19 v Sheffield 12
Sheffield started the 2nd half on the front foot, and on 45 minutes fly half Callum Posa sold the dummy back inside which the Blaydon defence dually went for and he went through on Blaydon full back Nathan Bailey but this time Posa wisely passed back inside to left winger Christian Hooper to score, again easily converted by Fisher which tool the scores level for a short time.
Blaydon response was quick thanks to an error by Sheffield at the restart which led to a penalty on the 22 which Zach Thompson knocked over for 3 points and restoring the home side’s lead.
The next 15 minutes was pretty much stalemate, but good Blaydon defence led to a Blaydon penalty on the halfway line which they kicked to the corner. This led to about 5 minutes of pressure in the Sheffield 22 and eventually after numerous penalties, a few scrums and numerous short one out phases, Alex Charlton eventually went over the line for the bonus point score. This try again converted by Thompson giving Blaydon a 10-point cushion with 12 minutes to go.
Although there was an anticipated response from away side it came to nothing, and the next score came from Blaydon on 76 minutes with Sheffield conceding a penalty on their own 10 metre line and Zach Thompson stepped up to converted it between the posts to put the home side 13 points ahead.
Thankfully that turned out to be the final score of the game with Blaydon finally getting their first win of the season.
Full Time: Blaydon 32 v Sheffield 19
Blaydon: Bailey, Williams, Marshall (C), Greenlaw, Thompson, Horsfall, Fearn, Gray, Dodds Barry, Phillips, Charlton, Varley, Clarke.
Replacements: Rewcastle, Smith, Wright, Clarkson, Appleton
Sheffield: Kimpton, Adcock, Flint, Smith, Hooper, Posa, Fisher, Whitney, Noble, Hicklin, Parsons, Claydon, Hignell, Taylor, Fawdry (C)
Replacements: Keeton, Rogers, Crapper, Vitta, Finn
REFEREE: Michael Harris
ATTENDANCE: 178
STAR MAN: Zach Thomson – Blaydon
Scorers:
Blaydon 32
Tries: Barry 6, Charlton 18 & 68, Clarke 34
Conversions: Thompson 7, 35, 69
Penalties: Thompson 46, 76
Sheffield 19
Tries: Fawdry 31, Adcock 40, Hooper 43
Conversions: Fisher 32, 44
Penalties:

Henderson Scores 5 as Sedgley Take the Points at Crow Trees!

With Sedgley Park coming to Blaydon as yet undefeated and given we were looking for our first win this was always going to be a tough game. The same fixture last year ended in a 16 – 66 defeat but we faired a little bit better in the away fixture last season so there was still hope of some improvement on last seasons efforts.
So for the first 7 or 8 minutes it was very much Blaydon on the front foot, we were at 5 metre line out number 2 or 3 when Sedgley Parks counter to our driving maul forced Blaydon to give up the driving maul and look to the phases and that was going well until we dropped the ball 1 metre short of the try line. To be fair to Sedgley Park they were very quick to react, and within seconds the ball had been transferred from the right wing to the left wing and into the hands of Jamie Harrison and he turned our defenders inside out before racing to score in the corner. This first try was very well converted by fly half Oliver Glasse.
The next 10 minutes both teams were exchanging mistakes between the two 22 metre lines until Blaydon were attacking on the half way line and scrum half John Clarkson looked to spin it wide left but unfortunately his pass was well anticipated by right winger Rhys Henderson who intercepted to go in for the second try unopposed from 40-50 metres out. Glasse again converted well.
The next score came from another Blaydon handling error in midfield, which Sedgley attacked quickly at a disjointed Blaydon defence and a few phases later the ball was passed out to Henderson who out-paced the despairing Blaydon defence to score, again converted by Glasse.
Without wanting to sound repetitive, the next score was also for Sedgley Park, again they forced a Blaydon error and again the quickly jumped into life and again just a few phases later the ball found itself in the hands of right winger Rhys Henderson and he duly finished off without being touched, this time for his Hattrick. It was again converted by Glasse.
Finally on the stroke of half time Blaydon managed to build some phases and got into the Sedgley 22 and when it looked like we were struggling to break the gain line, a clever chip by James Cooney and a friendly bounce saw him gather his own kick to score Blaydon’s first try of the game. The conversion was missed by Clarkson.
Half time: Blaydon 5 v Sedgley Park 28
Sedgley started the 2nd half brightly and were looking likely to score again down the right wing but in an attempt to intercept / thwart the Sedgley attack Blaydon left winger Nathan Greenwood was given a yellow card for a deliberate knock on which was probably a fair call. Unfortunately a man down and on the left wing of all places, Sedgley scrum half Cameron Crampton, went blind down their right wing from a ruck on the 15 metre line and with no Blaydon left winger on the pitch it was Henderson once again who was unopposed to score. Glasse was again successful.
The next 20 minutes was messy to say the least with lots of injuries and substitutions for both side, which left Blaydon with a back row consisting of one back row, a scrum half and a prop, but to be fair to the home side we kept fighting and on 65 minutes Lewis Williams made a half break and fed in Nathan Greenwood who finally got the ball in space and he raced passed fly half Glasse to score in the corner, Clarkson again missed the conversion.
Frustratingly this mini revival was short lived and Sedgley park replied immediately and once again Henderson was the scorer, his 5th of the day, and as with all the Sedgley Park tries, Glasse converted.
Blaydon hadn’t given up yet and some good defensive pressure by Cooney forced an error in the Sedgley backs and the ball fell to substitute Nathan Horsfall 40 metres out and he duly ran in to score.
Unfortunately for the home side that was the final score of the game as Sedgley Park looked the more likely to get another score in the dying minutes but it was Blaydon who held out.
Full time: Blaydon 15 v Sedgley Park 42
Blaydon Bailey, Williams, Cooney, Thompson, Greenwood, Marshall, Clarkson, Fearn, Gray, Appleby, Barry, Phillips, Roy, Varley, Clarke.
Replacements: Dodds, Siddle, Edginton, Horsfall, Simpson
Sedgley Park: Riley, Henderson, Maher, Riley, Harrison, Glasse, Crampton, Blanchard, Maher, Black, Birtwell, Crowe, James, Bentley, Goodman
Replacements: Downham, Mallinson, Nonleh, Stelmaszek, Benbattouche
REFEREE: Daniel Woods
ATTENDANCE: 142
STAR MAN: Rhys Henderson
Scorers:
Blaydon 15
Tries: Cooney 39, Greenwood 65 Horsfall 73
Conversions:
Penalties:
Drop Goals:
Sedgley Park 42
Tries: Harrison 8 Henderson 21, 28, 32, 47, 68
Conversions: Glasse 9, 16, 29, 33, 48, 69
Penalties:
Drop Goals:
Many thanks to Chris Nunn for the Match Report and Iain Clyne for the fantastic photographs.

Tynedale Take The North East Bragging Rights

The game started at a frantic pace and the first score came in the first 2 minutes with Blaydon dropping the ball as they were forming the maul on the Tynedale 22 metre line and Tynedale reacted quickest.
They transferred the ball from left to right wing within a few seconds and cleverly they kicked ahead. The kick was perfectly weighted and with no one covering across, it was an easy chase and touch down for winger Toby Ferguson. Which was well converted by Jake Rodgers.
Blaydon’s response was immediate and from a line out 10 metres out they caught and drove the maul over the line with hooker Danny Gray controlling at the back and touching down. Blaydon Scrum half John Clarkson converted.
Blaydon pushed hard for the next score and spent the 10 minutes pretty much camped in the Tynedale 22 but to their dismay there was no just reward coming, although Ralph Appleby was adjudged to be held up over the line, certainly Ralph and other Blaydon players around him were convinced he got the ball down but unfortunately there is no TMO in National 2 North.
On 22 minutes Tynedale kicked ahead and Blaydon didn’t deal with the kick well at all, which gave Tynedale the ball just short of the Blaydon 22. From the next phase Blaydon were penalised at the break down albeit from my Blaydon biased eyes I could not see what for and from the resulting penalty Jake Rodgers dually converted to take Tynedale back into the lead.
The policing of the break down was a bone of contention for both sides for the whole game and the referee chose not to talk to either team to explain where things were going wrong from his perspective which didn’t help matters. As a result, there were numerous penalties throughout the game bewildering players from both teams and stopping the flow of the game.
Blaydon responded well to going behind and found themselves with a 5m scrum which they ran the ball in the backs and a relatively simple move gave the ball to centre Alex Clark who ran a great line to score near the posts. The conversion was easily knocked over by Clarkson to put Blaydon 14-10 ahead.
But frustratingly the next score came within a few minutes. Blaydon were again penalised again just inside their own half and the kick to the corner was a good one which gave Tynedale a 5m line out and the subsequent catch and drive resulted in a score for Hooker, Louis Frankland, which was again converted by Rodgers.
Blaydon had another opportunity to score as Tynedale spilled the ball in the back line on the half way line and John Clarkson was on hand to fly hack the ball ahead but with a clear run to the try line, the ball wouldn’t bounce up for him and as he went down to gather the ball he knocked it on and Tynedale survived again. On another day the ball would have bounced up higher and made gathering it a lot easier for him, as with the rest of the game small margins costing the home side.
Frustratingly a few minutes later the usual reliable boot of Clarkson, missed a penalty kick in front of the posts to level it just before half time.
Half time: Blaydon 14 v Tynedale 17
The second half started fairly frantically but with Tynedale definitely edging things territorially and within 5 minutes Blaydon were penalised in front of the posts for not releasing the man in the tackle and Rodgers easily converted to take Tyne further into the lead.
The pressure continued from Tynedale just 5 minutes later, another Blaydon infringement at the breakdown gave Rodgers another penalty in front of the posts which was easily converted to take Tynedale further ahead 14 v 23.
Blaydon responded well this time and from a line out on halfway, some good hands in the backs got the ball quickly out wide to James Cooney who cut inside but was just held up just short of the Tynedale line.
The ball was quickly recycled and Ethan Clark was on hand to carry the ball over the line to a good team try for the home side. The try was wide out but the conversion was excellently executed by Clarkson. Blaydon 21 v Tynedale 23.
But frustratingly for the home side the resurgence was short lived, and the next score came from a 5 minute period of sustained Tynedale pressure and just when Blaydon thought they had survived by bundling Tynedale into touch just short of the line. But a loose tap back from the resulting Blaydon line out was gathered by Tynedale and a few phases later 2nd row Chris Wearmouth used his substantial weight to get over the line. This time the try was converted by replacement fly half Josh Leslie taking the score to 21 v 30.
Blaydon responded well again, working their way to the Tynedale line and from a penalty and kick to the corner, the line out ball was driven over with Ethan Clark with the ball when we crossed the line. The try was scored wide out and this time conversion was missed, leaving the score 26-30.
There was 5 minutes left and their was still hope of a home win but unfortunately there were no more opportunities, Tynedale fairly professionally kept possession and closed the game out well.
The only consolation for Blaydon being the 2 bonus points.
Blaydon:
Bailey, Greenwood, Simpson, Clark, Cooney, Marshall, Clarkson, Rewcastle, Gray, Appleby, Wright, Phillips, Varley, Charlton, Clarke
Replacements: Chaplin, Gerrard, Inglis, Horsfall, Dowell
Tynedale:
Parker, Ferguson, Cramb, Roue, Todhunter, Rodgers, Telford, Carmichael, Frankland, Caudle, Wearmouth, Dunn, Cousin, Bell, Blackburn
Replacements: Batey, Dodd, Wainwright, Leslie, Cooke
REFEREE: Owen Taylor
ATTENDANCE: 578
STAR MAN: Jake Rodgers – Tynedale
Scorers:
Blaydon 26
Tries: Gray 5, Clark 28, Clarke 54, 75
Conversions: Clarkson 6, 29, 55
Penalties:
Tynedale 30
Tries: Ferguson 2, Frankland 32, Wearmouth 65
Conversions: Rodgers 3, 33, Leslie 66
Penalties: Rodgers 22, 45, 51
Many thanks to Chris Nunn for the match report and Iain Clyne for the fabulous photos.