After their impressive start to the season, the Centurions were brought crashing to earth by their North Tyne neighbours who were able to field a talented side.

Although the forwards were able to compete in all phases, the Border Park threequarters showed real pace and skill. They gave a taste of what was to come after only two minutes, winning ball on the right hand touchline near half way, it was whizzed at lightening speed to the left where American flyer Atticus Mikles sprinted home for a scintillating try.

A quickly taken penalty saw Ben Bell race away and unselfishly feed Rory Dixon under the posts.

Tynedale replied when Ian Charlton line out ball was driven on by Jason Armstrong. Livewire scrum half Alan Callander danced clear and released Oliver Hillary who showed great strength and determination to cross the line.

This stung the visitors into action and similar moves saw another flyer in Jack Appleton land a brace of tries on the left wing in quick succession, outpacing all defenders.

The competitive nature of the game was illustrated by the issue of two yellow cards after 20 minutes, to Steve Gradwell and Will Jonas, for being over enthusiastic at close quarters and tackles going slightly high.

Border had a period of dominance and Mikles and Bell touched down to extend the lead. Alex Walton would have scored his first ever try had there not been a slight knock on in the build up.

Dixon, never keen to pass when the try line beckons, tried to be generous and feed his winger but this unnatural act saw the ball fly into touch. His disappointment may have led to a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and the Centurions responded well with pressure of their own.

Martyn Hutton and Matt Leitch drove into the opposing 22 metre area. The rampaging Phil Scandle went close before Rory Craney and Henry Hayes were illegally prevented from scoring and the referee awarded a penalty try.

Conversions by Mark Anderson, Appleton, Bell (2), and Mikles for Border saw the score at the break, 12-40.

The second half continued in a similar vein and the visitors steadily increased their lead despite dogged defending from Graeme Hutton, Josh Scollick and Jonas. A penalty led to Josh Duffy diving over, Mikles completed a fine hat-trick and Dixon returned to bag his second.

The young Tynedale front row of Ed Weir, Robbie Binks and Ben Potts had manfully gone toe to toe with Tynedale legends including Dave Batey, Jonny Williams, Adam Telfer and Liam Carmichael throughout the game. However, they lost concentration for the only time in the match at a 5 metre scrum and Michael Searle touched down for a pushover try. This was very disappointing for the youngsters who had scrummaged very well and contributed so much around the field.

The home side might well have thrown in the towel at this point but, to their great credit, they rolled up their sleeves and went back on the attack.

Joe Common was forced into to touch in the act of scoring. Spencer Tolley, game as a banty-cock, called for a short pass close to the line but was cut in half and left winded by a ferocious defensive tackle. Alex Anson pirouetted out of a tackle and found Callander who repeated his link with Hillary recreating his earlier try with another powerful run. Tolley converted and the Centurions pressed again.

Shaun Taylor took the ball close and several players attempted to drive over from the resulting ruck. Unfortunately, control was lost, the ball squirted out the back and eventually arrived with Dixon who ran the length of the field to complete his own hat-trick. From the restart, Dixon caught, ran untouched, to allow Bell to bag his own brace with the final play of the game.

Conversions by Anderson, Searle, Mickles and Dixon (2) brought up another 40 points in the second period in this comprehensive victory over a Centurions team that never gave up but had run up against a classy Border Park side that carried too many big guns.