RUNNING in six tries against dogged hosts Billingham Lions, Tynedale Raiders maintained their 100 per cent start to the new campaign.

While the game was scrappy in large spells, Tyne's classy handling ability came to the fore and they ran away with things in the end for maximum points in the Candy League fixture.

After a slow start to the game, Tynedale sparked into life on 15 minutes when a quick tap penalty in his own 22 from Rory Dixon got them moving.

The ball was flung out wide to debutant Tom McCullough who in turn played it to fellow new boy Matt Teasdale for the opening score of the game, converted by Ryan Murray.

A dogfight followed but it was from another break from their own half which saw the visitors extend their lead, McCullough breaking and feeding Ryan Potts who ran home from 30 yards out.

While Billingham managed an unconverted try of their own, Tynedale went into the break leading at 19-5 as Edd Cawthorn collected the ball from a try-line scrum and bustled his way over.

The Raiders improved markedly after the break and had Billingham chasing shadows for the opening 25 minutes, and McCullough gained reward for an eye-catching display as he finished another sweeping move.

Teasdale, playing his second game for the team, also got the try his overall performance deserved when he charged down a kick and run onto the loose ball to score under the posts.

Tynedale's final try of the game came when Potts chipped and chased his own ball, getting on the end of it and going on to score and bring an end to the visitors' scoring.

Billingham profited from a sloppy finish to the game by the Raiders to run in two tries, but a big talking point on the sidelines was McCullough's smash on a Billingham full back. The noise from the home player was so prominent, it had one person comparing it to a 'bagpipe being tuned.'

The Raiders hope to keep up their great form when they host Morpeth's first team for the semi-finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup. Kick off at Tynedale Park is 2.30pm on Saturday.