BLAYDON'S first away win in National Two lifted them two places to sixth from the bottom, but as it came by the convincing margin of 39-11 at Halifax it can be assumed that all other clubs will win there as well.

Halifax have won once all season and are now too far adrift to have any hope of survival. They couldn't even take advantage when Blaydon were down to 13 men for eight minutes in the first half after Eni Gesinde and Patricio Desmond were both sinbinned.

The hosts led 6-0 at that point through two penalties, but their failure to move further ahead gave Blaydon the confidence to take control.

They hadn't had the best of starts, partly because scrum half Dominic Shaw got lost and arrived late, forcing James Kyle to switch from the wing.

Gesinde, on loan from Newcastle Falcons, was probably over-anxious to make an impression on his debut and was yellow-carded for persistent offside.

But once Blaydon were back to full strength Kyle kicked a penalty then a good touch kick by Nick Gandy allowed Desmond to be driven over from the lineout.

Just before half-time centre Adam Dehaty chipped through, full back Ralph Smith hacked on and Martin Shaw won the race to touch down.

Early in the second half Smith came into the line on the 22 and shot through under the posts, then Halifax briefly rallied to score their only try.

Blaydon added three more in the last 20 minutes, starting when Gesinde intercepted on halfway and no-one got near him.

Shaw, who had gone on midway through the second half, worked the blind side from a scrum ten metres out and Gandy scored.

In the last minute Dehaty performed one of his midfield shuffles to wrong-foot the defence.

He left several would-be tacklers in his wake as he raced under the posts, Dan Kyle adding his third conversion.

Tynedale made it 13 wins from 14 in National Three North when they left Harrogate just above the relegation zone after a 17-3 away win.

Tynedale went ahead with a catch-and-drive try by Rupert Harden after ten minutes before a penalty by Nick Wainwright provided Harrogate's only points.

A chip by fly half Rob Miller produced a try for Mark Laycock, converted by Phil Belgian, and Tynedale withstood 20 minutes of Harrogate pressure in the second half before adding another converted try.

With more postponements meaning many clubs face four weeks without a game, West Hartlepool were glad to keep ticking over with a 51-0 home win against Aldwinians in the top v bottom match in North Two East.

West's own recent lack of action showed as they led only 3-0 until first half injury time, when Carl Robinson crashed over and Paul Moss added the conversion to his penalty.

Winger Rob Thorn went on at half-time and emerged with a hat-trick, as did full back Gavin Painter as West really hit their stride.

The other try came from winger Colin Cheslin, who enjoyed a promising debut and made the running for Thorn's first touchdown.