Blaydon 29 Stourbridge 20

Feb 18 2008

STOURBRIDGE'S promotion ambitions got a bloody nose at Blaydon where they failed to pick up even a losing bonus point against the North East battlers.

Blaydon took a 14-0 lead but tries by Marcus Cook and Sam Robinson brought Stour back into it before the hosts gained another try after 37 minutes.

Alastair Bressington, meanwhile, had managed to hit the upright twice with penalties, which should be worth some sort of reward in itself.

Playing up the slope in the second half Stour made heavy weather of it and could not even make their advantage count when Blaydon were down to 14 men after a yellow card for persistent infringements.

When Blaydon ran in another try through Nick Gandy - their director of rugby - converted by Dan Kyle, Stour were trailing 26-17.

With eight minutes to go Bressington avoided the posts and at 26-20 Stour' at least were in line for a bonus point until the home side were awarded a late penalty and Kyle took Blaydon out of range.

On the plus side Manchester, rivals for the second promotion spot, lost 41-17 at leaders Otley but fourth-placed Blackheath beat Southend 41-33.