BLAYDON recorded their first away win of the season when they reversed their usual form by coming back from 7-3 down at half-time to beat Macclesfield 17-7.

As the hosts are the only team below them in National One, the victory will count for nothing unless they can follow it up by winning at home to Blackheath this week.

Blaydon are still 12 points adrift of safety and relegation rivals Hull Ionians showed they will not be going down without a fight by losing by only two points at Blackheath.

Macclesfield's big pack scored an early converted try from a driving maul and continued to dominate for 25 minutes.

Blaydon were rewarded for their first attack, a strong run by Fraser Wilson, by a Brett Connon penalty then began to pile on the pressure.

Macclesfield first lost stalwart forward Dave Marwick to the sin bin then had flanker Niall Davidson sent off shortly after half-time for a dangerous clear-out.

Two minutes later Blaydon prop Andrew Foster finished a series of pick-and-drives and after battering the line again skipper Keith Laughlin took a pass at pace to charge over. Connon converted from wide out.

Tynedale sealed a nip-and-tuck affair at home to Sedgley Park with debutant full back James Spencer's second try three minutes from time.

Ash Smith's conversion meant he had missed only one of his seven shots at goal and Tynedale won 35-24.

They led 20-17 at the interval, then fell behind to a converted try, but that proved to be the visitors' last score.

Hooker Louis Frankland scored Tynedale's first try and his replacement, Dan Lowdon, grabbed the third. Smith landed three penalties and three conversions.

In the only game in North One East, Penrith went to the top through a 106-7 home win against Guisborough, dropping West Hartlepool into third place.

Northern took over the lead in Durham and Northumberland One when they won 17-7 at Horden, while previous leaders Westoe's match at Gosforth was again postponed.

Medicals continued to move away from danger, despite their ten-point deduction, by winning 35-15 at home to Stockton.

In a game rearranged from early December, Gateshead beat bottom club Ryton 46-8. Tries were scored by Aaron Lomiiko (2), skipper Martin Heelbeck and fly half Adam Ridley, followed by two more from left winger Matt Rawlinson.

Full back, Scott Carter, in his first game after returning from injury, kicked five conversions and two penalties.

Stockton made a sloppy start and allowed Medicals to score two tries in the opening ten minutes before pushing on to a 20-0 lead at half-time.

Stockton fought back with a try from full back Dan Phinn and two from centre Jonny Horner, but a plethora of cards did not help their cause.

*Darlington Mowden Sharks lock Tamara Taylor will be looking to reach 100 England caps during the Six Nations Championship.

She is on 98 and has been named in the squad alongside clubmates Heather Kerr, Zoe Aldcroft, La Toya Mason and Katy McLean. Abbie Scott has been ruled out by injury.

England kick off against France at Twickenham on February 4 following the men's fixture, before travelling to Wales the following weekend.