Bradford and Bingley deserve huge credit for a hard-fought National League Three North victory over single-minded Blaydon.

The home side clearly came into this game with the idea of slowing the pace down and making the Bees fight for every inch of territory.

It didn't make for much of a spectacle, but the Bees camp were pleased with their own display in a game which went against all their natural instincts to give the ball width early and to play the game at pace.

"We only conceded two kickable penalties, and kept them out of our 22 for 90 per cent of the game," said Bradford and Bingley coach Geoff Wappett after the game.

"We have to be pleased that we came away with a victory which keeps us third in the table against a side that are clearly having a run of form with five wins in their last six."

Indeed, Blaydon took until the 65th minute to apply any pressure in the Bees 22, as they were awarded a series of scrums five metres from the visitors' try- line.

Excellent Bees defence repelled all that the home side could throw at them, however, and the visitors for once were content to clear their lines with a monstrous kick from full back Benny Greaves, although men outside him were screaming for a running counter-attack. The game kicked off in brilliant winter sunshine and the Bees quickly established the upper hand.

Bloues Volschenk made a few telling breaks, fellow back-row man Kern Yates was his usually busy self, and Barry Clark was dominant in the line-outs.

However, as Blaydon managed to slow things down, the Bees seemed to accept the pedestrian pace of the match, and soon the game settled into an even-paced stroll through the Blaydon mud.

Two Tom Rhodes penalties - in the tenth and 37th minutes - punctuated the half, and a penalty right on half-time from former Otley man Dan Clappison, meant the sides went in at 6-3.

The second half was much like the first as both sides bumped and barged at each other in midfield.

The Bees threatened to break the stranglehold three or four times, but either dropped the ball in contact or took a crucial wrong option.

Blaydon seemed content to absorb the Bees pressure and rely on a stream of long touch-finders from their centres to clear their lines.

With the game so tight, they only needed one breakaway to claim victory, and the Bees were perhaps fortunate that the only handling move Blaydon put together floundered in the hands of a front-rower who had strayed on to the wing and faced a one- on-one with Joey Nau for the race to the corner.

On the hour, Tom Rhodes landed another penalty to stretch the Bees' lead to 9-3, but the advantage was not enough to allow the visitors any chance to relax, and the familiar pattern of midfield bump and grind continued right up to the final whistle.

With a minute left, a final penalty from Rhodes secured the Bees their four points.