TYNEDALE and Billingham eased their relegation worries with crucial away wins on Saturday.

After looking doomed at the turn of the year, Tynedale climbed two places to fifth from the bottom of National One with a 19-10 victory against Loughborough Students.

Billingham would have been dragged into the mire in National Three North had they lost at Waterloo, but a 29- 27 win saw them pull ten points clear of their third-bottom hosts.

Peter Evans scored two tries and kicked two conversions, the second one proving the winner as Billingham came back from 27-17 down.

Despite tries from Matt Kirkby and Anthony Rumis, they trailed 17-12 at the break before Evans’ first levelled matters. Wateroo then scored a converted try and a penalty before Tom Small touched down to spark Billingham’s push for victory.

At Loughborough it was again Tynedale’s new-found forward strength which prevailed as back row men Daniel Temm and Harrison Collins drove over and they were also awarded a penalty try.

They also defended well as the Students produced some impressive build-ups but were 19-5 down before they scored a second try with 15 minutes left. They continued to press but couldn’t find a way through.

Gavin Beasley added two conversions for Tynedale, who moved above Henley and Worthing but will be looking over their shoulders at Cinderford, who have three games in hand.

After being unable to play at home for two months Cinderford’s pitch was in reasonable condition for the rearranged visit of Blaydon, whose decline continued with a 32-13 defeat.

Despite being without four first-choice forwards, Blaydon dominated up front until skipper Keith Laughlin was harshly sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and shortly afterwards fellow lock Sean English had to retire for stitches following a clash of heads.

The line-out suffered and Blaydon’s challenge faded as they were unable to deal with home full back Mike Wilcox, who helped to set up a hattrick for powerful winger Nev Codlin.

Ben Morris was outstanding in his farewell appearance for Blaydon before joining Rotherham, while fellow flanker Harry Bate also played well and was driven over for an early try.

Andrew Baggett added a penalty for an 8-7 interval lead, but it became 25-8 before prop James Hallam, who had to switch from prop to back row, finished an excellent move.

With a visit to leaders Doncaster coming up on Saturday, Blaydon will be without Laughlin for six weeks following a hand operation.

West Hartlepool slipped further out of the promotion picture in North One East when they lost 34-19 at Alnwick and dropped into fourth place.

With the strong wind behind them, West came back from an early deficit when Stu Waites jinked through for a try, which he also converted.

Then Adam Coates finished off a good move featuring Luke Mallinson, Peter Youll and Alex Barker.

Waites converted for a 14-5 lead, but Alnwick forged ahead and there were only seven minutes left when Waites intercepted in his own half and raced away to score.

After winning 31-3 at home to bottom club Bishop Auckland, improving Novos are targeting a win this week at Stockton, the team just above them in Durham and Northumberland One.

Bishops felt hard done by as they dominated the scrums but were never awarded a penalty.

With the wind behind them in the second half they were gaining momentum when they were awarded an attacking scrum and a home prop was suddenly unable to continue.

As the other Novos prop had already retired the scrums became uncontested, but that was reversed ten minutes later when the hosts had the put-in and their second prop went back on.

After their good start following promotion, Bishops have increasingly been hit by injuries and have had to field several teenagers.

They now look certain to be relegated along with Ponteland, who lost 30-7 at Durham City.

City still have hopes of securing the promotion play-off spot as they are only four points behind Blyth, who lost 17-8 at Gateshead.

  • Newcastle Falcons pair Zach Kibirige and Scott Wilson played the full 80 minutes as England Under 20s won 33-9 win against Ireland at Northampton.

England Women, led by Darlington Mowden Sharks fly half Katy McLean, kept their Six Nations hopes alive after beating defending champions Ireland 17-10 in front of 15,000 at Twickenham.

Several penalties were missed and McLean was able to convert only one of the three tries, one of which was scored by Tynesider Sarah Hunter, the vice-captain and No 8.