Tynedale were victorious in the Candy Vase final at Corbridge but the score line does not reflect the efforts put in by a tough Billingham side. They were in the game until the last ten minutes when three converted tries made the result appear very convincing.

The Centurions, with the luxury of a long warm-up session, started impressively with the talented half-back partnership of Joe Northwood and Andrew Murray dictating affairs. A neat switch saw Dan Kerr go close, Jake Sloan was held just short and Ethan McLeod drove to the line but a scrambling Billingham defence held firm.

After ten minutes the pressure was turned into points as Murray fielded a defensive kick and drove forward. Support arrived in the shape of Rory Craney, Jacob Brown and Callum Foxcroft before Brogan Millar was driven over the line to score. Millar then created his own second try with a powerful break, linked with Ed Weir and James Crosby and was in support to be driven over by the pack.

Billingham were then able to have a period of dominance and they were unlucky not to score on several occasions but fine defending by Ed Coffey, Crosby, Sloan and Kerr prevented tries.

However, towards the end of the half, the Centurions began to re-assert. A fine 50/22 kick from Murray saw Northwood tidy up a scrappy line out and Sloan went close. Quick hands saw the ball shipped to the powerful full back Donald Stembridge to score a beauty. Spencer Tolley cleverly called for a long cross field kick, Murray responded and the winger caught the ball well but, in the process of spinning out of the full-backs grasp became disorientated. The assistant referee pointed out that as he stood astride the try line, Tolley had touched the ball down on the wrong side of the whitewash leaving the score at the break 15-0.

After the break Tynedale were lucky enough to bring on no fewer than nine replacements in an attempt to give the whole squad a runout. These fresh legs in no way weakened the side with a new front row of Michael Ramsay, Jonny Pape and Lewis Sparke controlling the scrum and flying into action in the loose.

Within a few minutes of the restart Rory Dixon was given an opportunity to stretch his legs and he ran strongly from 40 metres to outflank the defence. Kael Horton made a long break and linked with Northwood who, with matador-like confidence, avoided defenders before feeding the rampaging Rhys Loughead, unstoppable from 20 metres out.

To their credit Billingham re-organised and again exerted pressure. Martyn Hutton was forced to race back and fall on a clever kick and was strong enough to hold off several attackers until Horton and Crosby arrived to secure possession. This effort could not last and the home side were soon in the ascendancy as the visitors tired.

Micky Hall went over from a quickly taken penalty then set up the try of the match from long range. Making ground from deep in his own half Hall found the speedy Liam Pitt who added pace, switched the line of attack and brought in the classy Jamie Dixon who still had plenty to do as he danced over. The same player had a more routine score close to the end. Murray converted all five second-half tries to set the seal on a fine effort by the Centurions but, Billingham can count themselves unlucky to have nothing to show for their endeavours.