Tynedale just shaded the North East derby to give Captain Matty Outson a fitting send off at Tynedale Park after 13 years of playing first team for Tynedale.

Tynedale started the game a very quick pace and a good break by number 8 Blackburn and a quick recycle, the ball was fed out wide to the right wing where blind side wing forward Ben Bell was  unopposed to go over in the corner.

For next 10 minutes Tynedale continued to pile pressure on Blaydon and defence was stretched as result and within a minute they had both Centre Cooney and Scrum Half Clarkson sin binned for separate infringements at the breakdown.  So the following scrum left Tynedale with a 2 man advantage in the backs and Leslie kicked wide for right wing Todhunter to touch down. (10-0)

Only a few minutes later Blaydon kicked to clear their lines which was perhaps unwise given the disadvantage in the backs, this was easily exploited by full back Rob Parker who broke to the 22 and he fed Will Miller to score, this time converted by Leslie. (17-0)

Blaydon finally woke up and just as they got back to 15 players on the field and a penalty kick to the corner led to a line out and Blaydon crossed the white wash with a well-controlled catch and drive with Matty Winter touching down.

The Blaydon resurgence continued, a good kick return by Stephens and a break by Varley took the ball to the Tynedale line and the ball was passed out to Ashman to score. The conversion by Clarkson was good.

And again the red revival continued, a poor kick by Tynedale gave Blaydon a line out on the Tyne 22, Blaydon worked the ball quickly and after about 7 phases the ball found itself in Ashman’s hands and again he finished well to bring the scores level.

Half Time Tynedale 17 v Blaydon 17

The second started off in complete contrast to the first, with both teams looking to play rugby but neither breaking into the oppositions 22. After about 15 minutes of the 2^nd half Tynedale gained a bit of momentum but were held up over the line. Blaydon dropped out under the posts but 2 phases later Tynedale were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Leslie converted to take Tynedale back in front.

Blaydon’s response was fairly immediate, they kicked to the corner and from the line out Tynedale dragged the driving Maul down and referee ruled it was a penalty try for Blaydon as they were certain to score.

Tynedale controlled the next 10 minutes and after numerous phases attacking the Blaydon line they finally broke through with prop Angus White scoring wide out, which was well converted by Leslie. 27-24.

Blaydon pushed hard for score now I reply and had a line out 5 metres out but the throw was adjudged not straight and that turned out to the last play of the game.

Full Time: Tynedale 27 v Blaydon 24

Tynedale: Parker, Cooke, Clark, Miller, Todhunter, Leslie, Outson (C), White, Fletcher, Caudle, Wearmouth, Cousin, Bell, Tiffin, Blackburn

Replacements: Carmichael, Johnston, Stanwix, Blackett, Wainwright

Blaydon:, Ashman, Cooney, Clark, Sommarsall, Marshall (C), Clarkson, Brantingham, Winter,  Dodds, Wright, Phillips, , Harrison, Charlton.

Replacements: Chaplin, Thompson, Hall-Lyon, Appleton, Bailey

REFEREE:   Daniel Woods

ATTENDANCE:  572

STAR MAN:  Tynedale – Matty Outson

Scorers:

Tynedale 27

Tries:   Bell 1, Todhunter 15, Miller 19, White 71

Conversions: Leslie 20, 72

Penalties: Leslie 56

Blaydon 24

Tries:    Winter 24, Ashman 32, 37, Penalty 61

Conversions: Clarkson 33, Penalty Try 61

Penalties:

Fylde v Blaydon 5th March 2022

After completing back to back victories in the past two weeks, Blaydon travelled full of confidence for their away fixture at The Woodlands only to be met by a home side, the league’s leading scorers, in superb form.

Overall, Fylde ran in 11 tries in a superb all round display with their backs and forwards combining well and entertaining the home crowd of near 1,000.

The early few minutes of the game saw Blaydon in constant possession but immediately they dropped the ball, it was quickly transferred to their former winger Tom Grimes who ran in from half way for their first try and a bazaar next 7 minutes saw Blaydon leak 3 more tries and the home side secured the bonus point by the 16th minute.

However, Blaydon were not to be outdone and did play their part when hooker Owen Chaplin finished off in the corner to reduce the arrears.   During scoring Chaplin received a leg injury, leaving the field and taking no further part in the encounter.   Immediately Fylde retaliated and added 2 further tries before half time but Blaydon were not to be denied and Ethan Clark touched down twice to reduce the arrears and put Blaydon in touch of their bonus point.

Immediately after the interval with the injured Jack Appleton having been replaced by Falcon flyer Iwan Stephens, soon saw that vital score when the same player ran in from 20 yards.  Midway through the half he added to the score with a further touchdown and Blaydon had then, with conversions by John Clarkson, reached 31 points.   Unfortunately the home side also scored at regular intervals and finished up totalling 79 points.

A heavy defeat but a travelling bonus point which puts us 6 points above basement club Harrogate and seemingly slowly we are avoiding last place.

Lastly many thanks to Jim Huxley for compiling this match report and Kev Dodds for the photos, both are very much appreciated.

We hope to see you all at Crowtree’s this weekend when our First XV look for another home win against Hull Ionians, kick off 2pm. Why not make a day of it and take in England v Ireland in the clubhouse after the game, kick off 4.45pm!

Fylde’s class out wide is the difference

Blaydon started well with an early Nathan Horsfall penalty following two early infringements at the breakdown by Fylde.

Fylde responded quickly with good break blind by centre Forster putting in winger Sam Fisher for unconverted try.

Blaydon’s response came from a clever short line out to 2^nd Row Phillips, who provided a good quick return to hooker Sean Pyle who finished well in the corner.

Blaydon continued to compete well and a sustained period of Blaydon pressure led to a yellow card for number 8 Fairbrother and penalty by Horsfall, taking the score to 13-5.

Fylde replied quickly and slick backs move put centre Forster through the middle and ex Blaydon winger Tom Grimes finished off well.

Then straight from the kick off openside Phil Mills made a strong run and put in Winger Fisher for his 2nd try again unconverted.

Half time 13-15

Fylde started the 2nd half brightly and were attacking the line when Blaydon 2nd row Phillips was yellow carded and from the resulting scrum, scrum half Matt Sturgess went over for their first converted try of the game.

Blaydon replied brilliantly, Jonny Ashman putting in Owen Chaplin under the posts for another converted try bringing Blaydon back to with in 2 points

A long period of Blaydon pressure frustrating resulted in nothing for the home side but a couple mistakes resulted in Fylde having an easy penalty for Greg smith which was quickly followed by another penalty by Smith.

Fylde continued in the ascendency and a produced a well worked 2nd try of the game for Tom Grimes.

Blaydon pushed hard for a score running out of their 22 and lost the ball under the posts leading to an easy score for Tom Carleton.

From Blaydon’s perspective a frustrating afternoon coming away with nothing when their performance deserved so much more.

Final score 40 – 20

Blaydon Bailey, Richards Cooney, Clark, Appleton, Horsfall, Clarkson, Dodds, Pyle , Thompson, Wright, Phillips, Cooper, Chaplin, Clarke.

Replacements: Beattie, Inglis, Hodgson, Foreman, Ashman

Fylde: Carleton, Fisher, Forster, Rawlings, Grimes, Smith, Sturgess, Barrow, Gregory, Bowker, Parkinson, Garrod, O’Ryan, Mills, Fairbrother

Replacements: Kyle-Clay, Lewis, Blake, Partington, Lanigan

REFEREE:  Michael Harris

ATTENDANCE:  135

STAR MAN: Fylde – Phil Mills