BLAYDON proved that all northern teams in Division One are a test for anyone at home and they were spurred by two 'soft' scores which should have been prevented. In fact, the Cornish All Blacks tackling was under par throughout.
THERE were four tries during the match, two per team, in the first13 minutes.
Within three minutes Blaydon were seven points up after their right wing Scott Riddell shot away and with All Black wing Ben Turner facing two men, Riddell passed inside, dummied, chipped over full back Jon Fabian and scored in the corner. Fly half Andrew Baggatt, (who posted a personal tally of 15 points, converting all five of his side's tries) added the extras.
Almost immediately All Black flanker and skipper, Tom Rawlings, finished a fluent backs move with a touchdown, the ball being flicked inside to him. Fly half Tony Yapp converted to level it.
Blaydon immediately regained the lead, No 8 Jason Smithson crossing after a lineout and maul.
The All Blacks drew level again within three minutes with an almost copybook move from the Blaydon try, No 8 Sam Hocking breaking off the back of the maul to score after a lineout and catch-and-drive. Yapp again converted and it was 14-14.
The All Blacks took the lead at the start of the second quarter. A kick to within five metres of the home line, another catch-and-drive and prop Neil Bayliss touched down from a driving maul. There was no conversion but the Cornishmen were now five points up.
However, Blaydon went in ahead again at the interval. Their flanker, Terry Wood, scoring after some good inter-passing and a driving maul.
The score which saw Blaydon begin to pull away came just after the hour when they had their best passage of back play passing the ball back and forth across the pitch and stretching the All Blacks defence. In the 62nd minute Baggett went over for a try, converted and his side were 28-19 in front.
Then man of the match lock Christopher Wearmouth was yellow-carded for pulling down, All Black replacement lock Nathan Hannay went over from a driving maul after a lineout, Yapp added the conversion and the visitors were just two points adrift with 11 minutes remaining.
Blaydon had the last word. They kept attacking relentlessly using the whole team and eventually, with one minute to go, after a sustained move Wearmouth forced his way over.
Blaydon: A Dehaty, S Riddell (J Quinn 48), J Fitzpatrick, P Dias, K McShane, A Baggett, T Rock, R Kalbraier (S Trethewy 47) (Kalbraier 74-80), M Hall (Captain) (D Graham 80), J Clarke, C Wearmouth, G Jones, M Wilson (K Laughlin 80), K Wood and J Smithson. Replacement not used, A Archibald.
Yellow Card: Wearmouth.
Scorers: Tries, Riddell, Smithson, Wood, Baggett, Wearmouth; Cons, Baggett (5).
Cornish All Blacks: J Fabian (J Murphy 72) K Lewitt, R Westren, J Luff, B Turner, T Yapp, L Webb, J Bolt, J Salter (D Semmens 47), N Bayliss (B Powell 47), B Hilton (N Hannay 47), B Jenkins, M Rawlings (D Kimberley 74), T Rawlings (Captain) and S Hocking.
Scorers: Tries, Riddell, Smithson, Wood, Baggett, Wearmouth; Cons, Baggett (5).
Referee: Mr A Vertigan RFU.
Attendance: 147.