Tynedale 36, Wharfedale 12

In the four seasons since Tynedale were promoted to National League One, Wharfedale have yet to win in Northumberland, and only briefly yesterday did they look as though they could break that losing run.

Six tries to none tells a convincing story but it just might have been a different outcome – or, at least, a rather closer result.

The Greens were under the cosh for most of the first half but turned round only 12-9 in arrears, largely thanks to splendid goal-kicking by fly half Tom Davidson.

His three penalty successes included two towering clearances from near the halfway line.

When the second half got underway, the visitors looked a different side. Now it was they who applied the pressure.

For 15 minutes, during which Davidson slotted his fourth penalty to level the scores, the Greens forced Tyne onto the defensive.

Two good chances for tries went begging, but the Greens still looked the more likely to score next.

Then – disaster. In his sole error in an otherwise sound performance, Davidson’s ill-judged pass saw home winger Hamish Smales make a routine interception and race through to the posts, leaving his fly half Gavin Beasley with the simple conversion for 19-12.

From then, it was downhill from the Greens’ point of view. They fought on, with spirit, but with the Tyne backs now reinvigorated, and running everything, further home scores seemed inevitable.

Three tries – prop John Williams, from a pushover (64 minutes), centre Jack Harrison (66 minutes) and full back Sep Visser (76 minutes) – were added to the first-half brace from scrum half Dominic Shaw (17 minutes) and Visser (22 minutes), plus Smales’ breakaway (56 minutes).

Davidson had opened the scoring in the second minute with his first penalty, and kept the Dalesmen in touch with two further clearances (18 minutes and 26 minutes).

Tynedale: S Visser; H Smales, J Harrison, B Duncan, C Ingram; G Beasley, D Shaw; M Shields, B Marshall, A Murray, P Dawson, G Beasley, A Murray.

Wharfedale: A Whaites; S Horsfall, C Malherbe, A Hodgson, L Gray (A Lovatt 72); T Davidson, S Cottrell; M Chivers (C Steel 40), I Larkin (S Graham 65), B Hooper, O Renton (T Wareing 72), T Vaioleti, A Allen, D Solomi, R Brown (C Howick 65).

Referee: Marcus Caton