This was a keenly contested struggle between local rivals with both teams giving their all on a frost affected pitch. One of the features was a matchup between the Craneys and the Winters, fathers Rory and ex-Tynedale stalwart Paul, with sons Ed and Matthew. All were heavily involved in a tough forward encounter.

The Centurions took an early lead when the multi-talented Josh Leslie, switching easily between full-back, centre, stand-off and scrum-half during the game, made a swerving break from his own half. He then the full-back to feed supporting winger Spencer Tolley who crossed in the corner. Leslie showed another skill by landing the difficult conversion.

As the game ebbed and flowed Tynedale created good chances as Lewis Sparke, Brogan Millar and Adam Telfer drove the ball close. Ian Charlton, Owen Shield and James Crosby created chances for Jack Bullen, Mark Smales and Liam Pitt but, the home defence held firm.

Blaydon were also dangerous and scored a nicely worked try in the threequarters before a forward drive led to a second score on the half-time whistle. Both efforts were well converted to leave the score at the break, 14-7.

With a strong set of replacements, the Spartans began to get the upper hand and they increased their lead following a tapped penalty.

Skipper Jake Sloan responded with a neat break to release the speedy Seb Jansen who ran untouched from half way to touch down under the posts with Leslie adding the points. This score was against the run of play and it needed a good shift of tackling from the back row of Joe Richards, Rob Earnshaw and Oliver Wall to keep the Centurions in the game until a classically executed driving maul from a line out extended the home lead.

This provoked a good response as Rory Booth, Ethan McLeod and Michael Ramsay were involved in a drive close to the home line and Leslie, by now at No 9, darted over from close range then added the points to leave the game in the balance at 26-21.

With the last play of the game one of the big Blaydon forwards broke from a maul and made sure of the victory, sprinting through a ragged defensive line for the final try to clinch a deserved victory in an excellent game.