On a sunny afternoon and a 2.00pm kick off on Blaydon’s 4G surface, we witnessed Andy Huetson without his usual flip flops and having to wear proper footwear as flip-flops were banned on this surface.

From the kick off York were fast out of the blocks and camping in the oppositions 22m , awarded a simple kickable penalty in front of the posts, they spurned this opportunity and decided to go to the corner. From the ensuing lineout the visitors were penalised allowing the home side to clear their lines. An early scrum saw dominance imposed by the visitors, marching the home side backwards at a rate of knots, but the line outs were dominated by an agile and well organised Blaydon lineout.
A series of penalties awarded to both teams, led to an opportunity on the 22m and in front of the posts. This time Harry Shackleton with his reliable left boot gave York an early lead.
Blaydon 0 York 3.

From the restart Blaydon put the York line under siege, and the experienced centre Alex Clarke breaks the line to score under the posts for John Clarkson to convert. Blaydon 7 York 3. The referee was very busy awarding penalties to both teams, eventually he had had enough, and a collapsed scrum on the Blaydon line saw a penalty try caused by the power of the visitors’ pack.
Blaydon 7 York 10.

The new laws were tested when York were awarded a free kick. In the past a scrum would have been a choice. However, after a slight delay, thanks to our PhD student and former Cambridge Blue, Ben Mills, York took the tap. Toby Atkin, York man of the match, always looking dangerous, sniping and taking tap and go penalties, keeping defences on their toes. Blaydon are now testing the York defence; great defensive sets keep the opposition at bay. Blaydon are keeping the ball alive and creating phases eventually finding their man of the match, Cameron Ray, outside his wing unmarked to run in for an unconverted try, just before half time.
Blaydon 12 York 10.

Blaydon turn around with a slight wind behind them, now York are on the attack and make several line breaks. Eddie Westerby normally engaged in close quarter combat pops up to make a 30m line break. Is he going all the way for his moment of glory? Alas - he is felled with the line in sight! Line breaks by Henry de Boulay and Ben Mills go unsupported. Such attacks see Blaydon defending and causing them to stray offside in midfield. This is the opportunity for Harry Shackleton to take an easy three points.
Blaydon 12 York 13.

York are again quickly on the attack, a scrum on the Blaydon 22m with a blindside created for Toby Atkin to work in engaging defenders. This finds Henry de Boulay on his shoulder who scores in the right-hand corner, and Harry Shackleton lands the particularly important conversion.
Blaydon 12 York 20.

A yellow card for Blaydon’s Austin Phillip creates more pressure for their set scrum, but in fact we were to see a rally from the home side later in the match. York make a change, Ben Dent moves to the wing, Henry de Boulay to inside centre, replacing Will Fordy, who is nursing a knee injury. There follows a well worked training ground move, which sees the new centre run powerfully to the line, Harry Shackleton unable to convert.
Blaydon 12 York 25.

From the restart Blaydon work the touchline to create a lineout 5m out, using their dominant lineout they create a maul, for the returned Austin Phillip to touch down, for an unconverted try.
Blaydon 17 York 25.

The pressure is now piled on York, defending to save the match, a penalty on the York 22m and in front of the posts sees Blaydon go for the corner. The York Skipper, Archie Fothergill, steals the lineout and lines are cleared, but only briefly … with pressure quickly moving back to the visitor's line. The lively Blaydon scrumhalf breaks the stout defence and squeezes through a small gap for the try, but the kickable conversion is missed.
Blaydon 22 York 25.

Right to the end Blaydon keep the pressure on – fighting to get that home win. Stout defence from York sees a turnover stifle the attack and the referee signals the end of the match. A relieved York team come away with a hard-fought victory on a ground that will undoubtedly see many home wins this season.
Full Time: Blaydon 22 York 25.

Scorers York;
Tries: Penalty, De Boulay 2
Conversions: Shackleton 1
Penalties: Shackleton 2

Blaydon;
Tries: Clarke, Roy, Phillip, Clarkson
Conversions: Clarkson.