Home league victory over Wallsend

Despite a number of senior players being unavailable Blyth have developed enough strength and depth to be able to field two 20 man squads for the 1st XV league game v Wallsend and the 2nd XV league game v Ashington. These are very encouraging signs for the season ahead and credit to the hard work being put in behind the scenes by the players, coaches, team captains, managers & DoR's.
Blyth started with another very young side, lead by captain Scott Bates. Again the excellent starting front row combination of James Golding, Coby Allen & Sean Beattie continued to shine, and when backed up by a 'Rhino' off the bench the scrummage was always going to be an area where Blyth excelled. Lee Gallon started in the second row alongside Vegas Liddell and brought his tough tackling to the mix.
Wallsend travelled with a powerful, heavy pack and tested Blyth particularly in the line out and mauls where they had good success. However, Blyth's back row of Tom Bowman, Alex Robinson and Scott Bates were excellent at the breakdown contesting every ruck, successfully disrupting and slowing down any chance of Wallsend getting quick ball.
Blyth started well and took the lead after only 6 mins with a try from Coby Allen which went unconverted.
Wallsend hit back after only 10 minutes and took the lead with a well worked try which was converted. Wallsend had a couple of 'big guns' with the boot and were regularly able to clear their lines with great effect sending huge kicks down field to earn good field position. Blyth's back three of Hall, Manners and Henderson coped well with the Wallsend kicking game and ran the ball back to good effect linking in with support players to threaten the Wallsend defence.
Blyth regained the lead on 21 minutes when Jonny Grey scored a try on the end of an excellent simple handling move. Grey's centre partnership with Omar Laidler is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the early season for Blyth. Both players excel in defence, regularly turning over ball at the ruck both and pose a real threat going forward. Their developing partnership is exciting to watch.
A sign of their youthful ambition, Blyth turned down a couple of very kickable penalty opportunities instead choosing to scrummage or take a tap penalty confident in their attacking ability. The ploy wasn't successful and Wallsend continued to pose a threat and created an excellent attacking overlap situation late in the first half which was thwarted by what was deemed a deliberate knock on by Sean Beattie which resulted in a yellow card and a 10 minute sin bin. Impact 'sub' (he told me to write that) ;0) Martin 'rhino' Stephenson came on to replace the sin binned Beattie.
10 - 7 at half time to Blyth with the game in the balance and a player down.
Blyth coped well being a man down for the opening of the second half and were able to build their lead when Vegas Liddell crossed for a try however Wallsend replied within minutes with a penalty kick to narrow the lead to 5 points for the home side, 15-10.
Blyth began to make changes with Lewis English and Corey Hart coming on to refresh the forwards who were battling hard against a tough Wallsend pack. Then the 'rhino' made his impact (he told me to write that aswell ;0) with a trademark try from a maul where he twisted and turned in amongst a rolling maul to drive over the line to extend the lead to 20-10. Blyth enjoyed good possession and territory with the young half back duo of Joe Carr and Lewis Bowman producing fast ball for the backs. Blyth looked to have sealed the victory on 70 minutes when Lewis Bowman scored a try which he converted himself to extend the lead to 17 points.
Blyth should have been able to close the game out but that's not the way Blyth have played so far this season. Scoring freely in every game but sometimes chancing their arm in attack, Blyth kept the game loose and open but were hit by a counter punch when an attack broke down and Wallsend took full advantage on 73 minutes scoring a try which was converted to narrow the lead to 10 points, 27-17.
With 4 minutes to go and determined to deny Wallsend a losing bonus point Blyth opted to kick a penalty for goal. The free running Lewis Bowman stepped up and slotted the 3 points.
Wallsend weren't finished yet! They showed fitness and determination putting the home side under intense pressure. They deservedly scored an excellent try giving them a chance of the losing bonus point. Unfortunately the quickly taken conversion narrowly missed and the game ended with a final score of 30-22 for Blyth.
The fourth consecutive win for Blyth maintains their 100% record at the start of the season. There is genuine competition for places in both the 1st and 2nd XV and the club has a really positive atmosphere both on and off the field amongst players, club members and supporters. Long may it continue.