Launceston 36 Blaydon 17

Mar 27 2011 Sunday Sun

BLAYDON contributed much to an entertaining game in which they were only two points adrift midway through the second period, only to be cut down by a brilliant bout of scoring from Launceston’s Ryan Western.

The outside centre ran in two late tries, added both conversions and also put over a penalty to take his personal tally for the match to 21 points.

The home side also had the advantage of a sensational start when their winger Richard Bright broke from his own 22 in the fourth minute to kick ahead and regain possession, cross over halfway and then repeat the chip and chase to scoot clear for the try.

By quarter time their lead was stretched with a second try, this time by scrum-half Lewis Webb on the end of a slick handling movement, Western converting.

However, Blaydon were to have the better of the next two periods of possession.

They hit back firstly through Simon Barber down the right wing after controlling the ball in seven phases of possession, only to hand the advantage straight back by attempting to run from their own line and gifting a simple score to hooker Tim Mathias, Western again on target.

By the interval however, Ed Yarnton had crossed from another long spell of solid possession and at the break it was 19-12.

With the Blaydon pack well on top it was no surprise when No 8 Jason Smithson grabbed a third try, Andrew Baggett adding the conversion, and with the score at 19-17 the game was back in the balance – until the scintillating late show from Western that is.

JOHN BRENNAN