Last updated at 11:49, Tuesday, 18 September 2012

TYNEDALE crashed to a derby day disaster at a warm and sunny Blaydon on Saturday.

For not only did they lose a game they dominated for over an hour, they also lost two key players to Tynedale’s enduring injury jinx.

Promising centre Harry Mountain will miss the rest of the season after rupturing the biceps of his left arm.

And flying winger Hamish Smales, who has already scored two tries in two games this season, will also be out for three months after breaking a bone in his hand.

Tynedale returned from Crow Trees with a solitary losing bonus point, not quite sure where everything had gone wrong.

It was their fourth defeat in their last five visits to Blaydon, and while they were always in with a shout, they just could not breach the inspired Blaydon defence.

A derby day trip to Blaydon is always interesting, not least to sample the seating in the stand,presumably sponsored by Germaloids.

Tickets should bear a Government health warning – bring your own cushion!

It also makes fans appreciate the open aspect of the Tynedale stand, unimpeded by the pillars holding up the roof.

But the Blaydon officials and alickadoos are unfailing affable, whatever the result.

The Tynedale side showed just one change from the one that started against Old Albanians, with Sam Reynolds preferred in the back row to Ben Frankland.

Fly half Matty Outson had a fine game, putting in some crunching tackles as well as the rarity of putting over a penalty from relatively long distance.

As ever Blaydon fielded a strong and muscular pack, but Tynedale’s eight more than held their own for much of the game, despite playing without a recognised hooker.

Tynedale’s tackling was generally strong and secure, but once again, they were ruthlessly punished for careless mistakes in a low-scoring game.

Too often, they managed to mess up strong attacking positions, either going it alone with a big overlap outside, or slowing down to look for support when circumstances called for a bold thrust for the line.

It has to be said though that Blaydon defended superbly, particularly in the dying minutes, when the lightning-fast Smales was somehow hauled down by winger Frazer Wilson when he was odds on to score.

Much had been made of the power of the Blaydon pack before the game, but all the early attacking came from Tynedale’s enterprising backs.

After five minutes, a typically deft kick from scrum half Harry Peck earned a line out inside the 22, but the ball was lost at the throw-in.

On eight minutes, the previous week’s two-try hero Ollie Stedman was over the line to touch down, following a quick penalty by Peck, and a penetrative pass from skipper Jack Harrison.

Unfortunately for Tynedale, the scoring pass was deemed to have gone forward, so the score was ruled out.

Ten minutes had gone before Tynedale made their first appearance in the Tynedale 22, but it came to nothing.

Tynedale were the authors of their own misfortune on 18 minutes, when after a re-set scrum, the referee laid down the law to both front rows.

Tynedale disregarded the warning and conceded a free kick, from which the ball sped across the field, to the fleet-footed Wilson.

He managed to get the ball out to centre Charles Incledon, who grabbed and juggled with the ball before finally touching down.

Only after length consultation with the touch judge did referee John Meredith eventually award the try.

The kick failed, and Tynedale should have replied immediately, when a good Smales break produced a chance for winger Alan Rogers, but he knocked on with the line at his mercy.

Another promising move faded to nothing when a long floated pass drifted behind Harrison like a Chinese lantern.

It wasn't only Tynedale who were profligate with chances. The break of the day from scrum half Andy Davies took him to within yards of the line, but the unfortunate Incledon knocked on the scoring pass.

Tynedale eschewed a penalty in front of the posts to go for a line out, but forget the basics of winning the line-out, and Blaydon cleared with ease.

And on 38 minutes, the ferocious Stedman found himself in the clear with one man to beat, but instead of trampling his way through him, he looked for support, and the chance was lost.

Tynedale extended their lead three minutes into first half injury time with a penalty from fly half Andrew Baggett, and there were ironic cheers from the Tynedale faithful when Matty Outson replied from the tee just before the break.

The second half started badly for Tynedale, when they made a complete mess of a line- out close to their own line.

They tried a short throw to the front of the line, but it went horribly wrong, with the ball being slapped back into touch.

Blaydon needed no second invitation to get their well-rehearsed catch and drive routine going, and number eight Jason Smithson was credited with the touchdown.

Baggett converted and Blaydon were looking comfortable at 15-3 to the good. However, Tynedale refused to lie down, and a kick and chase by skipper Harrison had the home side scampering back to cover.

Then scrum half Davies was yellow carded for illegally halting a certain try, and Tynedale were back on top.

They narrowed the gap in style on 16 minutes, with Peck producing a clever overhead kick to the corner, which Rogers pursued to touch down for a deserved try.

Outson hit a fine conversion, and Blaydon were in range at just 15-10 ahead.

Tynedale were on the front foot, but committed and gritty Blaydon defence defied everything that came their way.

Towards the end though, Tynedale’s hopes soared when Smales collected the ball just inside his own half after good work by Chris Harris.

A devastating burst of acceleration left Blaydon players trailing in his wake.

But a second’s hesitation as he neared the line proved fatal as Wilson somehow managed to collar the flame-haired flier.

The try was still on, but Tynedale offended at the ruck.

Blaydon had been looking very tired up to this point, but the let-off perked them up.

Tynedale lost a scrum against the head, and it was Blaydon who finished the stronger.

First published at 09:08, Monday, 17 September 2012
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk