A BUMPER crowd turned up at Corbridge on Saturday, hoping to see Tynedale’s 31-try winger Morgan Passman adding to his already impressive haul this season.

Unfortunately for them, the England U18 star was not even in the squad for the 27-21 win over Wharfedale, as he was down to play for Newcastle Falcons’ A team on Monday night.

But their disappointment was assuaged by the emergence of another fleet footed teenager in the form of 18-year-old Will Roberts, who made a dream debut by scoring two great tries from the left wing berth.

The Hexham youngster has come through the ranks at the club and showed a rare turn of pace and good hands.

There was also a welcome back for Jake Rodgers, who celebrated his return from a prolonged injury absence with the opening try in the very first minute.

Games between Tynedale and their nearest neighbours tend to be close affairs, but this one seemed to be heading for a rout when Tynedale stormed into a 12-0 lead with just seven minutes gone.

But then Tynedale rather lost their way, making too many mistakes at crucial times, and they found themselves 14-12 down at the interval.

Normal service was resumed after the break, with the four try bonus point secured after 47 minutes, but Tynedale were unable to kick on as the mistakes mounted.

There were good displays from the ever reliable skipper Matty Outson at scrum half, with locks Chris Wearmouth and Graeme Dunn always in the thick of things, and Tom Marshall impressing in the back row.

Tynedale made the perfect start, when from the kick off, Rodgers fielded a hopeful Wharfedale kick in his own half, and simply streaked up the right wing for a superb individual try.

Rob Parker’s conversion attempt was wide, but the full back made amends on five minutes when he refused to give up the chase on a kick ahead, and touched the ball down inches from the dead ball line for a try he converted himself.

The full back then blotted his copy book by missing a simple penalty, and soon after, Roberts was cynically blocked while chasing his own kick ahead, an effort which earned Wharfedale winger Ralph Wellock 10 minutes in the sin bin.

However, despite having territorial advantage, Tynedale were unable to add to their total, and it was the Yorkshire side who ended the half on top.

From a scrum close to the Tynedale posts on 38 minutes, scrum half Sam Gaudie - so often a thorn in Tynedale’s flesh - darted in for a try improved by stand off Jack Blakeney Edwards.

Referee Daniel Woods somehow found seven minutes of added on time at the end of the half, and from another close range scrum, Gaudie was over again, Blakeney Edwards’s conversion putting the visitors in front.

Three minutes into the second half, Tynedale secured a turnover ball in their own half, and Roberts roared through to score a memorable try converted by Parker.

On 47 minutes, good pressure on the Wharfedale line sucked in the defence, and a long pass out wide found Roberts waiting to score again, and clinch the bonus point.

Tynedale continued to dominate, but again mistakes abounded, and all they had to show for the pressure was a Parker penalty on 63 minutes to take the score to 27-14.

The last word went to Wharfedale, who staged a grandstand finish which ended with hooker Ken Houghton wriggling over like a spawning salmon under the posts.

Blakeney Edwards’ conversion secured a losing bonus point for the visitors from Yorkshire.

The win maintained Tynedale’s impressive form, and lifted them to sixth place in National League Division Two North.

Their penultimate game of the season on Saturday will see them travel with confidence to already relegated Peterborough Lions.