BLAYDON will be hoping that the end of Newcastle Falcons’ European campaign will release players to assist in the relegation fight at Crow Trees.

A 71-12 defeat at Hartpury College again underlined that Blaydon don’t have the personnel for a high-speed game and sent them back into the bottom three in National One.

Dual-registered prop Andrew Foster, back row man Callum Chick and winger Zach Kibirige all started for Newcastle on Saturday, with centre Tom Penny and scrum half Ruaridh Dawson on the bench.

But the Falcons will now have to rely on their experienced men as they face ten successive weeks of Premiership action.

Blaydon conceded 11 tries on their trip to Gloucestershire, with scrum half Ben Vellacott and winger Jonas Mikalcius scoring four each.

Winger Tom Grimes scored an early interception try for the visitors, but their only other response was the usual catch-and-drive from Jason Smithson.

Tynedale stayed just above the drop zone in Two North when they won 21-16 against Sale FC on the artificial surface at Kingston Park.

After this week’s daunting trip to leaders Macclesfield, Tynedale hope for a triumphant return to Corbridge for the visit of Caldy on February 6.

Following two penalties by Ash Smith, it was 6-6 after 30 minutes against Sale, but two tries either side of half-time sealed it for Tynedale. They were scored by wingers Ollie Walker and James Clark.

Billingham lost 28-20 at home to Ilkley, who are just below them in mid-table in Three North.

Peter Evans was unable to land a late conversion which would have earned a point on a day when Billingham were never ahead.

Prop Steve Smith appeared on the wing to score and Phil Reay also touched down, with Evans’ two conversions and a penalty keeping them in touch at 20-15 until lock Liam Armstrong was stretchered off. Ilkley then forged ahead.

West Hartlepool kept alive their slim promotion hopes in North One East when they won 17-8 at home to Morley, who had previously lost only once.

But the win was marred by injuries for West. Gavin Painter and Liam Bailey had to depart in the first half and Stu Waties, who switched from full back to fly half, went off with a shoulder injury in the second half.

Flanker Aaron Myers had to move to inside centre and when he was sin-binned under mounting pressure with 20 minutes left it didn’t look good.

But heroic defence restricted Morley to one try as they tried to fight back from 17-3 down.

West went ahead against the run of play after 23 minutes when they drove a maul from halfway and Owen Bennett peeled off to send Ryan Painter over.

Another maul produced a try for skipper Dan Boatman for a 10-3 interval lead and four minutes after the break a good move was finished by right winger Joe Willis, with Waites converting from wide out.

With the injuries taking their toll, Morley got back on top but their kicker’s second penalty miss cost them a losing bonus point.

Powerful centre Craig Dominic scored a hat-trick as Durham and Northumberland One leaders Durham City romped to a 47-15 win at Acklam.

The big home forwards competed well and won a few scrums against the head, but City’s classy backs held sway, with Bradley Pears again among the scorers.

Phil Stewart also touched down and landed five conversions, while Danny Ashton included a try among his ten points for Acklam.

Middlesbrough remain five points behind City after a 29-6 win at home to Ryton. Boro scored after two minutes when Conner Foley took a quick tap and after a couple of quick rucks Rob Bellerby cut through to send Ben Wood over.

Sam Gaudie converted his own interception try and the third came just before half-time from a nicely-worked move in which Matthew Todd’s inside sent Wood clear. The conversion made it 19-0 at the interval.

With the breeze and slope in their favour, Ryton pressed hard but solid defence forced them to settle for kicking two penalties.

Boro hit back and the bonus point try followed an excellent clearance kick.The chase by Charlie Bircham, who was on for Todd, took Boro into the 22 and after hammering at the line Liam Wilson burrowed over.

The final try came when an attempted kick behind the defence was charged down by Bellerby, who raced 70 metres to score.

Three penalties by Jeremy Good were Stockton’s only reward for battling hard at Horden, where they lot 15-9, while Ponteland’s 15-10 win at Medicals left Darlington 12 points adrift after a 45-19 home defeat by Gateshead.

In division two, Barnard Castle won the crucial battle at home to Hartlepool 26-10 and are three points ahead with a game in hand. Redcar are equal top after an 83-5 home win against Ashington, but have played three games more.