BLAYDON produced one of their best displays of the season as they thrashed National One basement boys Birmingham & Solihull 47-7.

Micky Ward’s side scored seven tries as they warmed up for next weekend’s local derby with Tynedale, and welcomed back Newcastle Falcons hooker Matt Thompson after a seven-month absence with a shoulder injury.

Thompson’s return helped Blaydon exert complete control in the pack, and they claimed the lead as early as the fourth minute through flyhalf Andrew Baggert.

Birmingham levelled through Ollie Winters, but that was to prove a rare bit of respite for the visitors.

Centre Matt Clark restored Blaydon’s lead, with Rob Bell crossing from close range to make it 19-7 to the hosts at the break.

The second half was even more one-sided, with Gavin Jones scoring two tries in close succession shortly after the interval and Robbie Kalbraier breaking away from a maul to claim his side’s sixth try.

Fellow prop Darren Fearn made it seven in the closing stages, and Blaydon will head into this weekend’s North- East derby in decent heart.

Tynedale will also be confident of success though after they moved into seventh position in the table with a narrow 25-23 win over Macclesfield.

They made a fine start with tries from Harry Peck and Peter Cole, but stand-in kicker Matty Outson failed to convert either and would eventually finish the game with a success rate of nought from five.

Macclesfield pulled a try back through Ryan Parkinson, and when Jamie Murray was sin-binned before the break, the visitors claimed the lead courtesy of a score from number eight Francis Barker.

Richard Hughes scored Macclesfield’s third try in first-half stoppage time, making the score 19-10 at the break, but Tynedale reduced the arrears when lock Graeme Dunn crossed nine minutes after the break.

Andrew Murray scored the hosts’ bonus-point try shortly after, and the points were effectively secured when Sam Shires scored with 12 minutes left. Will Robinson ensured a nervy finale when he scored for Macclesfield late on, but Tynedale held on to secure a welcome win.

There was no success for Westoe in National Two North as they slipped to a 33-22 defeat at mid-table Stockport.

Simon O’Farrell, Haydn Richards and Tommy Banks scored tries for Westoe, but two late tries from Stockport duo Dan Eccles and Nick Smith meant the Shieldsmen returned across the Pennines empty-handed.

Darlington Mowden Park now boast a 15-point advantage at the top of National Three North after they cruised to a 58-5 win over Burnage.

Mowden ran in nine tries as they completely overwhelmed their opponents and now look extremely well set for promotion.

West Hartlepool remain in mid-table after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Lymm. West enjoyed the better of much of the game, but after falling behind to a fifth-minute penalty, their only score came courtesy of a three-pointer from Gareth Foreman shortly before the break.

Billingham boast an eightpoint advantage at the top of North One East after a 26-22 win at Cleckheaton.

Middlesbrough are third after seeing off Old Crossleyans 26-3, but Durham City were held to a 15-15 draw at Wheatley Hills.

Darlington are five points clear at the head of Durham/ Northumberland Division One after a 31-24 win at Alnwick. Stockton remain second after they saw off Ashington 41-24.