Blaydon lost their third successive National 2 North game in a row in what was a close encounter at Harrogate. Blaydon were promoted with Harrogate from Northern Premier via the COVID curtailed 2019/2020 season.  The Clubs have had a long recent history of closely fought games and this was no exception.

Blaydon started brightly but an early Blaydon breakdown offence just inside their own half was penalised and Sam Fox, kicked Harrogate into a 3-0 lead.  Blaydon were quickly back in the Harrogate half by retaining numerous phases of possession and mounting streams of attacks but failed to break the home defence.  Eventually on 18 minutes Harrogate’s defence were penalised for being offside, Blaydon kicked to the corner and Alex Dodds was driven over from a driving maul to make it 3-5.

Soon after that score some Blaydon mistakes and indiscipline gave Harrogate an attacking line out of their own.  A number of waves of attack followed and eventually Hooker Aarin Yorke, was driven over the Blaydon line, which Fox converted.

A period of Blaydon dominance followed but Harrogate’s defence held out in spite of conceding repeated penalties, which led to Harrogate number 6 being binned for 10 minutes.  Despite numerous attacks as Blaydon tried to take advantage of their numerical advantage, poor decision making and handling errors meant the half time score stayed at 10-5.

Blaydon started the second half strongly and eventually broke the home defence with Alex Charlton picking up a loose ball to score under the posts, which was ably converted by John Clarkson taking the score to 10-12.

Frustratingly the Blaydon lead did not last long, as Harrogate launched a rare attack in the Blaydon half and following some strong defence we were awarded a penalty but some Blaydon indiscipline resulted in the penalty being overturned and Mike Newstead sent to the bin.

This proved a crucial moment in the game as Harrogate kicked to the corner and following a number of phases attacking the Blaydon line, 2^nd Row Sam Brady scored under the posts which was easily converted by Fox.

There were still 28 minutes remaining and all to play for but although the majority of remaining 28 minutes were spent in the Harrogate half similarly to the Huddersfield game, poor decision making, handling errors and indiscipline from Blaydon assisted by some strong home defence meant that the score remained at 17-12 in a very frustrating afternoon for Blaydon.

Harrogate

Doherty, Graham, Knowles, Cummings, Edwards, Fox, Keith, Baxter, Yorke, Dennis, Hannam, Brady, Martin Dodds, G Coser, Declan Thompson.  Subs:-  Maycock, Larder, Lansdall, Wickham, Mercer

Blaydon

Bailey, Richards, Cooney, Greenlaw, Appleton, Ashman, Clarkson, Alex Dodds, Newstead,

Drew Thompson, Wright Laughlin, Charlton, Harrison, Clarke.  Subs:- Gray, Beattie, Inglis, Cooper, Devereux

Referee

Pete Conor (RFU)

Attendance–150

Man of the Match—Martin Dodds (Harrogate)

Score Breakdown

Harrogate

Tries–Yorke 27, Brady 55

Conversions—Fox 27 and 56

Penalties—Fox 4

Blaydon

Tries–Dodds 19, Charlton 45

Conversions—Clarkson 46

Blaydon’s first game back in National Leagues ends in narrow defeat.

The game started fairly evenly with the first 20 minutes finishing 6 – 3 to Blaydon RFC with Ryan Foreman kicking two penalties for Blaydon and Charlie Titcombe replying with one for Loughborough Students.

As the first half progressed Loughborough began to gain the ascendency and the first try of the game came on 23 minutes through scrum half Iwan Burgwin. Loughborough were the better team for the rest of the first half but it was a turnover on their own line, that led to a length of the field try for winger O’Leary-Blade. This took Loughborough’s lead to 17-6 at half time as both tries were converted by Charlie Titcombe.

The start of the second half continued the same as the end of the first with Loughborough edging things, but it was Blaydon who scored first with Foreman adding another penalty. On 53 minutes the students made pressure count and substitute Ben Smith scored a 3^rd try for Loughborough which was again converted by Charlie Titcombe.

This score led to a Blaydon revival, 5 minutes later and Liam Wright scored Blaydon’s first try following a driving maul. Blaydon were starting to get a foothold in the game now and another try followed, scored by Ethan Clarke making his debut for Blaydon, both tries were converted by Foreman taking the score to 23-24.

Loughborough extended their lead with another Titcombe penalty and although Blaydon pushed very hard for the winning score Loughborough Students defended well and ran out 23-27 winners in a well contested first game of the season.

Full Time Score: Blaydon 23 – Loughborough Students 27

Referee: Michael Harris

Attendance: 248

Half Time Score Blaydon 6 – Loughborough Students 17

Man of the Match: Charlie Titcombe (Loughborough)