A PRE-BONFIRE Night blitz saw Tynedale return to winning ways with a seven try demolition of Sheffield.

The best of the fireworks came in a four minute spell at the start of the second half when Tynedale ran in three converted tries to reduce the men of steel to rusty wrecks.

Having lost the previous two games, it was a confidence boosting win for the Blue and Whites, made all the sweeter by the fact that runaway leaders Stourbridge lost 20-14 to the other Sheffield side, the Tigers.

The win also took Tynedale back to second place in the table on points difference from Hinckley, also big winners over Tynedale’s next opponents Macclesfield.

There was little indication of the margin of victory at the break when Tynedale, looking distinctly out of sorts, led by a single point, having given away possession tamely on three separate occasions. There was also the dispiriting sight of talismanic skipper Matty Outson limping off hurt.

Happily, Outson returned after half time treatment, and the second half was one-way traffic as Tynedale unfolded their magic.

The hosts were without flanker Nick Cairns, due to a cut head, and winger Guy Pike, but their replacements Ben Bell and Rob Parker responded well, both getting on the try scoring sheet in an exuberant display of running rugby.

On a glorious autumnal day, Tynedale started well, fielding the Sheffield kick off and keeping possession well before centre Will Miller took advantage of a huge overlap to crash over wide out for the opening try with just three minutes gone.

Fellow centre Ash Smith’s conversion attempt was well judged but came back off the inside of the post. It was the only kick he missed all afternoon.

After that, Tynedale lost their way for a while, giving away two penalties in quick succession which were both converted by Sheffield scrum half Steve Depledge to give the visitors the lead on 15 minutes.

Tynedale settled down again and, from a penalty line-out, they patiently knocked on the door before winger James Spencer barged in, for Smith to make it 12-6 on 19 minutes.

Tynedale continued to have the upper hand, but too many passes were going astray. And on 33 minutes, the normally immaculate Scott Powell lobbed a gentle pass into the hands of Sheffield winger Rupert Broadley close to his own line, and he pinned back his ears to run the length of the pitch to score a try which made it an uncomfortable 12-11 lead to Tynedale at the break.

It was unclear whether Tynedale had had a seasonal rocket in the dressing room, but they were much sharper at the start of the second half, to devastating effect.

There were groans from the stand four minutes in when Tynedale refused an easy penalty to kick for touch five metres out, but the gamble paid off as, after good pressure, Oli Walker roared in to score under the posts for Smith to convert.

Straight from the restart, a scintillating break by the restored Outson earned the bonus point try for Parker, again converted by Smith, and, two minutes later, Smith was lining up another successful kick after a try he scored himself following more solid pressure.

Tynedale had gone from 12-11 to 33-11 in the twinkling of an eye, and Sheffield were left shattered.

On the hour, it was replacement hooker Jamie Blamire’s turn to burst through and, although he failed to ground the ball, support was at hand from the excellent Bell, who completed the job for Smith to convert.

Sheffield’s day got worse when number eight Gareth Burns was yellow carded for a high tackle on Outson, and things were wrapped up on 78 minutes with a rare try for prop Ritchie Elliott, Smith again converting.