BLAYDON moved into fourth place in National One, level with this week's hosts Blackheath, when they overcame a shaky second quarter to win 41-17 at home to Fylde.

Blaydon's pack were always dominant and after keeping it tight for 50 minutes they had worn down Fylde and were able to open up, playing superbly as they ran in four tries.

The only reward after camping in the Fylde 22 for the opening 15 minutes was a penalty by Andrew Baggett, who had a 100 per cent kicking record.

Blaydon then suddenly found themselves 14-3 down after Fylde ran in two converted tries, but five minutes before half-time Hall Charlton made ground up the wing and passed inside for hooker Matt Hall to scamper over.

The visitors were first on the board after the break through a penalty and they led until the 51st minute, but once Andrew Davies replaced Charlton at scrum half, Blaydon were able to capitalise on the visiting pack's fatigue.

There were tries for the impressive wingers, Frazer Wilson and Tom Jeffery. The former showed scorching pace as he easily rounded his marker and the latter burst through in the centre.

Lock Gavin Jones touched down after some forward inter-passing, and Chris Wearmouth finished a line-out drive in injury time. Baggett converted all five tries, while Gavin Painter played well at full back.

Tynedale , lacking five of the previous week's backs, fielded a side with an average age of 22 and lost 56-24 away to leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

No 8 Sam Shires, who played for Tynedale last season, starred for Ealing by scoring one try and setting up another. There was also a hat-trick for winger Phil Chesters, all coming in the first 20 minutes.

Tynedale's tries came from centre Peter Weightman, prop Alex Westgarth and No 8 Ollie Stedman, with fly half George Cullen converting all three and adding a penalty.

Westoe suffered their fourth successive defeat in National Two North when they lost 31-15 at Hull Ionians. They trailed only 12-3 at half-time, but it became 31-3 before wingers Joe McKenzie and Mike Potts scored in the last five minutes.

West Hartlepool will be desperate to win this week's National Three North game at home to Billingham after slipping to second from bottom place following a 70-7 thrashing at Sandal.

Billingham are sixth after a 45-31 home win against Rossendale, which suggests they have a much better chance of surviving at this level than they did two years ago.

West conceded ten tries at Sandal, for whom Greg Wood scored 25 points with a try, seven conversions and two penalties.

Darlington suffered the same scoreline as West, but the fact that it was at home to Sheffield in North One East will have set the alarm bells ringing.

The previous week's 85-5 drubbing away to leaders Wheatley Hills was not totally unexpected given the absence of key players, but even more were unavailable this time.

When Dan Carter finished a move which began in their own 22, Darlington trailed only 13-7 after 20 minutes and the front five continued to compete well.

But two injuries ended their resistance and Sheffield scored 40 points in the last 20 minutes.

Middlesbrough lost 19-17 at Keighley, where they were level at 10-10 at half-time but then paid for conceding too many penalties.

Three were kicked before Boro scored a late try, winger Josh Evans finishing a good move and Jack Bircham converting from wide out.

A Bircham penalty had initially given Boro the lead and he also converted when centre Paul Norris charged over from 25 metres just before half-time. Boro had two key players coming back from injury with Peter Wright going on for the second half and prop Craig Chapman for the last 20 minutes.

Stockton went to the top of Durham and Northumberland One with a 39-12 win at home to Ponteland , while previous leaders Gateshead suffered a shock 20-16 home defeat by Gosforth .