Burridge's late try scores much-needed victory for battling Wharfedale

WHARFEDALE left it late to secure a hard-earned National League One victory over their battling opponents which gained them four much-needed points.

Despite being deprived of possession for much of the game, Blaydon led by seven points until the closing stages after taking the few chances that came their way.

Clearly determined to put the previous week's heavy defeat at Old Albanian behind them, the Dalesmen dominated the early exchanges. They pounded the Blaydon defence, without a clear-cut chance resulting, until the 14th minute, when stand-off James Guy marked his first-team debut by charging down scrum-half James Christie's kick and following up for the try.

Blaydon had a bit more to say about the second quarter. Their first meaningful assault on the home line brought a try by hooker Rob Kalbraier.

The rest of the half was mostly played out in the visitors' territory, but Wharfedale were unable to make overall command of proceedings count.

The second half began in similar fashion, but after absorbing early pressure Blaydon suddenly broke out with a vengeance. A sustained attack on the home line culminated in a brave 45th-minute try for Christie which was converted by former Wharfedale stand-off Andy Baggett.

Wharfedale resumed control of the match, and applied almost incessant pressure on the visitors' defence. A penalty by Tom Davidson – concurrent with a yellow card for Baggett – narrowed the deficit, and with just four minutes remaining, No8 Josh Burridge was forced over for a try which Davidson converted.