Blaydon winger Wilson to thank for home win against Tynedale

He showed electrifying pace to race back and cut down Hamish Smales in the dying minutes after the visiting winger seized a loose ball in midfield and seemed certain to go under the posts.

Wilson also put in a blistering run when Blaydon broke out of their own 22 to score the first try. He was stopped just short, but centre Charles Incledon was on hand to finish.

The Tynedale pack dominated until that point, but Blaydon gradually got on top and Andrew Baggett kicked a penalty to make it 10-0.

A superb break by scrum half Andrew Davies should have led to a try, only for the ball to be dropped on the line.

Visiting fly half Matty Outson kicked a penalty just before the break but five minutes afterwards Tynedale made a mess of their own line-out and home No 8 Jason Smithson was driven over.

Baggett added a good conversion to make it 15-3, but with 20 minutes left Davies was sin-binned and from a five-metre scrum the ball was chipped through for Tynedale winger Alan Rogers to score.

Outson converted and Blaydon sent on Hall Charlton to steady the ship, while Gavin Painter did well as a replacement at full back.

Billingham opened their account in National Three North with a 48-15 home win against Bradford and Bingley.

It was 21-8 at the break before Billingham cut loose with tries by Dan Finney (2), Peter Evans and Andy Evans.

West Hartlepool lost 62-7 at Chester, who have set out their stall to nail down a promotion they have been chasing for several years. They led 29-0 at half-time and went on to score eight tries.

West lost No 8 Stewart Grazier in the first half and Stu Waites could be out for some time after suffering a knee injury shortly after converting David Heckles’ try early in the second half.

Middlesbrough and Darlington have only Cleckheaton below them in North One East after suffering their second defeats.

Depleted Boro lost 38-24 at Northern, for whom the kicking of ex- Sheffield fly half Donald Collins made the difference. He had expressed an interest in joining Boro until he realised how far it was from his new Tyneside home.

Boro led 17-13 until the 68th minute, but then conceded three tries in six minutes through poor defence.

Of those who were drafted in, winger Andy Micklewright and scrum half Peter Whitaker did well, with the latter among the scorers. Jack Bircham and Richard Horton also touched down and a bonus point was earned in the last minute when Bircham chipped over the full back and was obstructed, resulting in a penalty try.

Darlington conceded a converted try three minutes from time to lose 36-31 at home to Keighley.

Chris Oakley and Rob Goddard scored catch-and-drive tries then winger David Mackfall crossed in the 42nd minute and Mark Baldwin added his second conversion for a 19-14 lead.

The visitors then forged 29-19 ahead before lock Richard Adams was driven over and Fijian centre Cavalevu crossed, with replacement Michael Shepherd landing the conversion which put Darlington back in front. They failed to hold on and face a tough task this week at Wheatley Hills.

Stockton won 55-11 at home to Consett , despite trailing 11-10 after 20 minutes. Tries by winger Simon Crozier (2), prop Andy Bailes and flanker Martin Dixon made it 24-11 at half time.

Winger Dan Phinn scored a second half hat trick and front row men Mark Conway and Ben Cordiner got in on the act with Dan Phinn adding five conversions.