Binnings costly as Blaydon lose the box seat

THE Students eventually ran out comfortable winners in a non-stop thriller, outscoring Blaydon by nine tries to six.

However, until the 62nd minute it was Blaydon in the box seat.

Crucially, though, they then conceded two yellow cards in the space of a minute. A penalty try was awarded and, from then on, it was one-way traffic in favour of Loughborough.

The Students were a try up in the second minute through Riccardo Brugnara, had another disallowed in the seventh and were taking the game by storm until Chris Wearmouth and Jack Beckwith went over from close range for Blaydon.

Loughborough responded through Kehinde Olowofela and Isaac Miller and were back in front, only to also receive two yellow cards in a minute to set them right back.

Beckwith grabbed his second for Blaydon but the Students took a one-point lead into the interval

Skipper Keith Laughlin, Trevor Davison and Gavin Jones moved the Blaydon try tally to six and Miller and Harry Simmons the Loughborough total to five before further binnings.

The rampaging Students finished with late scores from full-back William Edwards and centre Charles Dockery while stand-off Josh Sharp weighed in with six conversions and three penalties.

Blaydon’s Andrew Baggett was on target with four conversions.