FOR the second successive week Blaydon came back strongly to win 29-12 at Blackheath after trailing 12-3.

After overhauling a 13-0 interval deficit at home to Coventry this time the fightback started with two Andrew Baggett penalties just before half-time.

With the wind and slope in their favour, Blaydon dominated the second half and after Chris Wearmouth finished off a catch-and-drive flanker Keith Laughlin completed a handling move.

The strength of Blaydon’s bench also proved decisive as lock Will Witty, centre Toby Bain, scrum half Jamie Christie and prop Andrew Foster all did well.

The bonus point try was the best as Foster went through a gap to finish a 30-yard handling move and Craig Willis converted after Baggett retired with an ankle injury.

Tynedale lost 30-19 at home to Richmond, despite a hat-trick from centre Ben Frankland, whose prolific scoring helped to haul them out of relegation trouble last season.

He dived over following a strong forward drive after four minutes, but the loss of skipper Andy Buist through injury proved a big blow for Tynedale.

Richmond drew level before the home pack set up a second for Frankland and two conversions by Gavin Beasley, back from coaching in Brazil, brought a 14-10 interval lead.

Richmond forged 25-14 ahead before scrum half Matty Outson sent in Frankland for his third, but Tynedale were denied a losing bonus point when Richmond grabbed their fourth try two minutes from time.

Billingham moved up to sixth in National Three North with a 32-21 win at Beverley, putting them in good heart for this week’s visit of Westoe, who remain bottom after losing 47-15 at home to Sheffield Tigers.

Westoe have been badly hit by injuries, allowing James Sant to come in and make a good impression. He and Joe McKenzie scored tries, while Matt Mellish added a conversion and a penalty. But two yellow cards either side of half-time proved costly as Westoe shipped 22 unanswered points.

After a see-saw battle in the first half West Hartlepool lost their way at home to Ilkley, who moved one place ahead of them in North One East with a 25-15 win.

The lead kept changing hands in the first half, when Stu Waites kicked a penalty from halfway and Dan Boatman finished off a driving maul.

Moves up the left wing brought two tries for Ilkley and one for West, with good passing sending Liam Bailey over in the corner, Waites adding an excellent conversion.

Ilkley stretched their 17-15 interval lead with another winger’s try and two yellow cards didn’t help West’s cause. Their best chance came when Scott Butcher broke from his own half and was stopped ten metres short.

A penalty was quickly taken but the ball was dropped and Ilkley kicked a late penalty to deny West a bonus point.

Confirmation that Horden are going to find life very tough at this level came in a 58-7 defeat at fourth-bottom Rochdale. The battle of the two teams inbetween them brought a 40-22 home win for Northern against Old Crossleyans.

Relegated Morpeth continue to dominate Durham and Northumberland One but a tense battle is developing beneath them. Stockton moved into second place with a 47-18 home win against Blyth, while Darlington lost

27-26 at Gateshead, one of three teams now only a point behind them.

They include Guisborough, beaten in the promotion play-off in the last two seasons and again pressing after a 36-10 win at Ryton.

Fly half Jeremy Good had an outstanding game for Stockton, scoring two tries in a personal haul of 22 points and helping to set up first half tries for Jonny Horner and Danny Phinn.

There was also a try for Jonny Cheetham after Matty Oates burst from his own half as Stockton romped into a 19-3 lead after 15 minutes.

Blyth got back into the game and were still in it at 26-18 after 55 minutes, but Stockton scored further tries through Phinn, Good and prop Mark Conway.

Middlesbrough are fifth in Yorkshire One after a 22-15 win at Heath, which was marred by a 64th-minute punch-up after which prop Isa Warsama and a home centre were sent off.

With skipper Rob Bellerby still absent, Aedan Moloney made his first start for Boro and shrugged off two tackles in scoring one of the three tries.

That followed a break by centre Michael Thornburn, who took two defenders over with him for the first following a blind side break by Simon O’Farrell.

Boro led 7-3 after the first half, in which the highlight was a 70-metre run from his own line by Rhys Kilbride.

When scrum half Conner Foley nipped over from a ruck Boro led 19-8 and when awarded a penalty after 73 minutes they opted to take the points, Jack Bircham adding to his two conversions. Heath scored a try with three minutes left.