Youth policy pays dividends with first win of season

BLAYDON finally secured their first victory of the season with a well-deserved home win against Otley, ending their disappointing start.

The hosts romped to an 18-7 half-time lead, despite fielding an inexperienced team with nine players under the age of 20.

That lead was extended to 28-14 by the 53rd minute only for a fitter Otley side to run in two late tries and reduce the deficit to just four points. BLAYDON OTLEY 35 24

It was then nip and tuck until the dying seconds when replacement Joel Matavesi latched onto a loose ball in midfield and cut through a gap to take it up to the 22 where winger Dan Marshall finished off under the posts.

Fly-half Joe Whyman, who already had landed two conversions and three penalties, added the extras and a win and a bonus point were in the bag.

“We stuck at it all the game and made the ball do the work” said a delighted team manager Jim Huxley. “Now that we’ve won, things can only get better”.

Forward Jack Beckwith got them off to a flying start after Otley messed up the kick-off, sending the ball dead.

From the scrum, Blaydon spent the next three minutes in the opposition 22 until the young prop stretched over for the score.

Otley then had their best spell of the game camped at the other end before Christian Pollock scored in the corner.

Blaydon regained control when scrum-half Andrew Miller made a neat break into the 22 and Beckwith in support grabbed his second and his side took an 11-point lead into the break.

Back came the visitors two minutes into the second period with an excellent try from their winger Henry Roberts.

But when they pulled down a Blaydon maul, Matt Thomson drove over from the lineout.

And just when victory looked to have been secured they were twice caught out by speedy attacks that resulted in Otley tries for Joe Graham and Jack Mackie.

The result was at the crossroads until the late Matavesi intervention which lifted Blaydon off the bottom of the table and up three places.