Clappison penalty puts Blaydon in third round

The players were delighted to book a trip to division one club Orrell in two weeks, particularly Dave Guthrie in his 11th season as captain.

He had to go off for stitches above an eye with the score 14-3 midway through the first half and said: "I felt we were just starting to come into the game.

"When I went back on and the score was unchanged I knew we could win it."

Two tries and a penalty got the gap down to one point, but there was a deathly silence when Dan Clappison fluffed the simple conversion which would have put Blaydon ahead with 13 minutes left.

He made amends in the 80th minute, when Wharfedale were penalised for handling on the deck and from near the right touchline Clappison sent the ball straight between the posts.

In the fourth minute of injury time Wharfedale counter-attacked and winger Simon Horsfall looked certain to score as he streaked away from halfway.

But centre Neil Wainwright covered across and tackled him into touch a foot short.

The talented Wainwright might be required to switch to scrum half for next week's tough league match at Halifax as Nick Williams limped off after 72 minutes and is doubtful, while Micky Dungait has a neck problem.

Prop Fatu Tulaga, returning from injury, made a difference when he went on after 36 minutes, while Charlie Roe had a good game at No 8.

Wharfedale were big but didn't last the pace and their early converted tries came from home mistakes.

As Blaydon settled down Clappison kicked a penalty and they scored an excellent try in first half injury time.

From a move which started in their own half, the ball went through 12 pairs of hands before lock Jimmy Houghton sent winger Simon Barber over in the corner.

Blaydon dominated the second half and after spurning two kickable penalties to go for catch-and-drives they finally scored after 67 minutes when Roe was driven over. Then the failed conversion set up the dramatic finish.

Darlington had no game at the weekend but were dealt a blow by the decision of Andrew Turner to return to Horden.

He kicked a conversion and three penalties, but Horden still suffered their fourth successive defeat in North Two East when they lost 28-16 at Malton and Norton.

Darlington coach Craig Lee said: "It's disappointing because he had settled in quite well and had his best game last week. It seems he was missing the social life, and if he doesn't want to play national league rugby that's up to him.

"He came with a goal-kicking pedigree and we'll probably now look at using David Kell as our first-choice kicker."

Redcar lost their 100 per cent record when they were beaten 24-23 at home by Driffield.

Skipper Neil Cook scored two of Redcar's four tries, but they were denied when Gareth Forman failed narrowly with an injury time penalty.

Westoe moved abover Redcar into fourth place with a 53-7 win at home to Sandal, with flanker Glen Walton scoring a first half hat-trick.

With Paul Hagen converting all five tries and adding a penalty it was 38-0 at half-time.

Hartlepool Rovers broke their duck with a 13-12 win at home to Morpeth, who are alongside Horden on nil points.

All Rovers' points came from scrum half Gareth Foreman, whose two tries put them 10-0 up before Morpeth hit back to lead 12-10. The decisive score was a 45-metre penalty by Foreman on the stroke of half-time.

With the first derby coming up at the Friarage on October 23, Rovers are now on the same points as West Hartlepool, who suffered their third defeat when they lost 24-0 at Stockton.

Two tries by former West player Alan Brown, plus another by Simon Brown, were all converted by Jeremy Good, who added a penalty as all the scoring came in the first half.

Stockton had Ian Todd and Jon Buddington sin-binned in the second half and gave away a spate of late penalties, but West were unable to capitalise.

Northallerton won 65-0 at home to Hemsworth in Yorkshire Three, with James Reid, Derek Keiloh and Brian Tucker scoring two each of the 11 tries. Tucker added five conversions.