Blaydon 21 Coventry 16

COVENTRY, former giants of English rugby, have grander aspirations than Blaydon, whose priority every season is to avoid relegation from National One.

On the evidence of Saturday’s absorbing clash at Crow Trees the clubs will be meeting again at this level next season, with Blaydon having much the greater cause for satisfaction.

They trailed 13-0 at half-time, having made too many mistakes against a more efficient side. But an injection of new blood helped to galvanise them into showing far greater urgency and three converted tries resulted.

Coach Micky Ward has opted not to play since his one-week ban after the opening match at Mowden Park, believing Blaydon have enough front row strength without him.

That was confirmed by the arrival of Matt Hall and Andrew Foster for the second half, when they began to dominate the scrums.

Although Hall had to retire before the end it was scrum pressure which led to the winning try four minutes from time.

Coventry were penalised for what the referee deemed to be an illegal attempt to stem their rapid retreat. After a kick to touch the maul was driven ten metres before the ball was moved out and replacement centre Toby Bain burst on to a short pass from Andrew Baggett to go under the posts.

It was almost a replica of the first try, when Hall was the one doing the bursting, and inbetween came a catch-and-drive, orchestrated by the indomitable Chris Wearmouth and touched down by skipper Keith Laughlin.

While they are among several stalwarts up front, Blaydon have not had a settled pair of centres and the value of having Baggett as a regular No

12 was clear.

He has regained the kicking duties from his young successor at fly half, Craig Willis, but the Durham School product looks the part, while scrum half Rhodri Adamson recovered from a shaky start.

His knock-ons were symptomatic of the team’s general inclination to spoil good passages of play by coughing up possession.

They dominated the first few minutes, when debutant flanker Jack Davidson broke strongly from halfway. When stopped ten metres short he had hardly hit the ground before he was penalised for not releasing.

Shortly afterwards Blaydon opted to send a kickable penalty to the corner, but the line-out was overthrown and Coventry countered strongly.

They kicked one penalty then sent one to the left corner and kept recycling until they scored on the right of the posts, the conversion making it 10-0.

That was their only try, but a second penalty gave them what looked a comfortable cushion at half-time.

Blaydon were transformed, however, injecting more pace into their attacks as they moved the ball right then left prior to the first try.

The second, coupled with an excellent conversion, put them a point ahead, but Coventry came back and after one penalty attempt from halfway drifted wide the next sailed over from 40 metres.

It set up a tense final ten minutes, but Blaydon were not to be denied and deserved to nail down the win.