TYNEDALE fans were given another dose of the Christmas collywobbles in deepest Herefordshire at the weekend.

Yet again, they seemed to have the game wrapped up when they led strugglers Luctonians 35-17 deep into the second half.

But, once again, the Tynedale pack was heavily outgunned in the latter stages of the game and, with the final whistle looming, they trailed 38-35 and were pegged back on their try line.

But Scott Lawson’s men never know when they are beaten and they not only managed to prevent the home side scoring again, but stormed to the other end of the field to score what proved to be the winning try courtesy of the excellent Nick Cairns.

It kept them level on points with Hinckley at the top of the North Division Two (North) table, only trailing the Midlanders, comfortable victors over early pacesetters Stourbridge, on points difference.

It was breathtaking, exhilarating stuff on what was Tynedale’s longest trip of the season at 520 miles there and back.

And they made the journey without talismanic number eight Scott Powell, due to the imminent arrival of his baby, as well as leading points scorer and place kicker Ash Smith. They also lost England U20 hooker Jamie Blamire in the first half with a hand injury.

On the plus side, there was a debut to remember for winger David Cook. who scored two fine tries, and there was also a double for Cairns, including the match winning try at the death.

The injury to Blamire also allowed replacement David Batey an extended run out, and the Bellingham front rower took his opportunity well, forcing his way onto the scoresheet.

Tynedale made an electrifying start, with the echo of the referee’s opening whistle barely dying down before Cook was over for his debut try, Jamie Spencer converting.

Luctonians came back well though, scrum half Sam Boxhall making it 7-3 with a penalty, before two more penalties led to a catch and drive from a line-out, which resulted in hooker Guy Kirkby touching down to make it 10-7 on 20 minutes.

The Tynedale backs were now starting to click through the gears though and, after Batey had crashed over for a good try, Luctonians flanker Matt Hackley was sin binned for foul play.

The Tynedale forwards drove over for a rare pushover try, credited to Cairns. Both were converted by Spencer to put Tynedale 21-10 up.

The pendulum then swung the other way, with Boxhall darting in for a well taken try to make it 21-17 at the break.

Tynedale lit the afterburners early in the second half, with the backs again producing some effervescent running which saw Cook grab his second try, before Spencer raced in for a try of his own which he converted himself to take the score to a commanding 35-17, with the bonus point in the bag.

But Luctonians refused to give up the fight, galvanised by replacement prop Joe White, and Tynedale found themselves under increasing pressure. They began to concede a lot of penalties, one of which resulted in a yellow card for prop Richie Elliott.

A passing move from a line-out saw left wing Frank Kelly touch down for a converted try, before a rolling maul from a line-out brought a try for White, again converted by Boxhall to bring them within four points at 35-31.

It seemed all over for Tynedale when they conceded a late penalty try to give the home side the lead, and it could have become worse when Luctonians knocked on with the line at their mercy.

Tynedale mounted a last gasp counter attack, and there was the distinctive headband of Cairns going over to make it five points for Tynedale.

Tynedale welcome a Stourbridge side which looked invincible in the first two months of the season when they won nine in a row.

However, the majority of those games were against teams in the bottom half of the table, and they have now dropped to fifth place in the table after failing to win any of the past four matches.

Their bad run started with a 20-14 defeat at Sheffield Tigers on November 4 and that was followed by a 39-16 home defeat to Sale, the first match on their new artificial 3G pitch.

A late try salvaged a 26-26 draw at South Leicester, before they suffered a humiliating 35-0 home defeat to table topping Hinckley at the weekend.

Saturday's game at Corbridge kicks off at 2pm.