Blaydon 31 v Blackheath 38.

Maximum points, and a third win in their last four visits to Crow Trees, but something of a hollow feeling for Blackheath at the end of this high scoring contest.

When Dave Allen crashed across for the Club's fifth try in the 50th minute, the visitors led by 26-points, only for their advantage to be eroded as Blaydon's pack took full control and steamrollered their counterparts.

Indeed, had the north-easterners been awarded the penalty try that was arguably justified five minutes from time, when the Club infringed at the put-in five metres from their own goal-line, the result might have been very different. With Aston Croall retreating to the sin-bin, Crows' number-eight Gavin Jones was able to cross from the uncontested set-piece that followed, but vital moments had ebbed away and Blackheath were able to keep possession long enough to close the game out.

The visitors had needed to recover from an unfortunate start. Blaydon’s key weapon is their tight-five, but the first scrum saw Blackheath with a marginal edge. However, the loss of Stewart Maguire in the seventh minute with a back injury left the Club bereft of a specialist tight-head, and as their depowered set-piece suffered a strike against the head, Crows’ full-back Craig Willis crossed in the right corner.

The line-out, on the other hand, gave Blackheath a solid platform throughout with Gavin O'Meara consistently hitting his targets, and as Geoff Griffiths broke the defensive line, Mike Canty was on hand to cross for the first try. The Club full-back did well to collect an awkward bounce and outpace the defence following Simon Whatling's garryowen to add a second moments later, and when Sam Eydmann nipped down the blind-side after Tom Bason had collected another throw, Blackheath had scored three tries in six minutes.

Ryan Squires added three well-struck conversions and a 25-metre penalty and at half-time time Blackheath led 24-5.

In the two sides’ earlier meeting, Blaydon had recovered from a nine-point first-half deficit to win 29-12, and when replacement centre Toby Bain was adjudged to have successfully touched down fly-half Andy Baggett's grubber kick soon after the re-start, memories may have turned to that October afternoon at Rectory Field.

However, strong running from Markus Burcham gave Blackheath field position for Bason to crash over, and Allen drove across for try number five from a close range line-out which, with Squires’ perfect strike-rate, put Blackheath firmly back in the ascendancy.

But it was the last time Blackheath threatened. For the final 30 minutes Blaydon's pack took complete control, winning penalties at almost every set-scrum and battering away at the Club's goal-line. Hooker Matt Hall broke through to score in the 57th minute and Willis found a great line to add his second in the 63rd.

Baggett converted both to narrow the arrears to twelve points, but Blackheath's desperate defence just held out long enough to deny Blaydon further score until Jones’ final effort arrived fractionally too late.

Next Saturday Blackheath are back on home turf for the visit of Wharfedale. Kick-off at Rectory Field, is 3.00 pm.

Blaydon.

Tries: Willis 2, Bain, Hall, Jones.

Conv: Baggett 3.

Blackheath.

Tries: Canty 2, Eydmann, Bason, Allen.

Conv: Squires 5.

Pens: Squires.