Blaydon are routed as Tigers go on the prowl

By GEOFF ROBERTS

Sedgley Park……… 31

Blaydon…………………..0

THE final result may give the impression it was an easy afternoon, but it was far from that for the promotion-chasing Tigers.

The visitors had the best of the early stages, however, for the second game running, the home team were in no mood to give away points. It was scoreless when after 28 minutes prop Darren Fearn was sin-binned for a high tackle, and it only took another minute for Sedge to capitalise when Will Lees picked up the pieces after desperate try-line defending. Steve Collins added the extras.

Tigers’ second try was the result of a block from a Blaydon kick, the ball was punted down the ground from Park’s own half and following blistering pace, Jamie Harrison coasted the last five metres to tap down for a 12-0 half-time scoreline.

The second half had a similar feel to the open stages of the first, and after 58 minutes, Sedge scrum-half Danny Openshaw latched on to a long lineout throw in from the visitors at the halfway line, and raced through to add five more points. Collins converted.

With the Tigers’ conscious of the importance of the bonus point they continued to push. Blaydon showed some intensity and the hosts spent time on their own try line, stoutly defending. The relief was palpable in the home ranks when Connor James bundled over for his first try of the campaign after 73 minutes, and more importantly the extra bonus point. Sedge finished off the scoring in the 80th minute when Rhys Henderson burst down the right. Collins added to it.