First-half failures are Blaydon’s downfall

SEDGLEY PARK BLAYDON 43 26

BLAYDON were simply not at the races in the first half in which they lost out 26-0 to fourth-placed Sedgley Park, contributing much to their own downfall in the process.

Time and time again their clearance kicks were misdirected, allowing the home side to counter quickly and run in tries through scrum-half Callum McShane (2), centre Matt Riley and winger Jamie Harrison.

Influential fly-half Steve Collins was on target with three conversions and at the interval it would have looked to a casual observer that there was no way back for a disappointing Blaydon side.

Whatever was said at half-time, it had the desired effect as the game was transformed within five minutes of the restart. Possession was retained through countless phases with Sedgley now on the back foot, and Blaydon hooker and head coach Matt Thompson was first to pierce their defence when he stormed over from 20 metres.

Ryan Foreman added the conversion, as he did for the second try, this time scored by scrum-half Andy Miller who was driven over from the tail of a line-out after a spell of constant pressure. Prop forward Dave Kilpatrick was next to cross the home line and with another Foreman conversion, it was now 26-21 and almost a complete turnaround.

Rob Lenderyou secured a try-scoring bonus point for the visitors but Sedgley avoided any further set-backs, and near the end, added further scores through Callum Chapman and Ben Lloyd.

If Blaydon had only competed in the first half, it might well have been a different story.