A STUNNING burst of four tries within a 10 minute spell at the start of the second half left Tynedale still searching for their first home win of the season on Saturday.

They were heavily outgunned by a big, strong and skilful Fylde outfit for long spells of the game, but still managed to salvage two valuable bonus points.

Indeed, they almost snatched a draw with some good attacking in the closing stages, but it wasn’t quite enough as Fylde ran out 34-27 winners. 

Fylde, celebrating their centenary season, came to Corbridge lying second in National League Division Two North, with three wins and a draw from their opening four games, and seemed good value for their lofty placing.

Forwards and backs combined well, with strong and sustained support play often leaving Tynedale chasing shadows.

Director of rugby Ben Woods rang the changes again, with youngster John Clarkson starting at scrum half, and skipper Matty Outson at fly half. The pairing generally worked well, with Clarkson helping himself to a try.

After struggling in the opening exchanges, the Tynedlae pack settled down to match their opponents in all phases apart from the line-out, where despite some good catches by the lanky Harry Snowdon on things went awry too often.

Number eight Ben Bell had a good game, scoring two tries, while full back Rob Parker also shone, before going off injured towards the end.

Fylde started like a runaway Blackpool tram, only a knock-on denying them a score after just three minutes.

Soon after though, a mighty burst from centre Scott Rawlings - built like a second row - burst the Tynedale defence open, allowing left winger Tom Grimes to squeeze in at the corner with seven minutes gone.

The try was only allowed after consultation with the touch judge, but fly half Greg Smith’s conversion from the right on the touchline was a gem.

Smith added a penalty on 14 minutes, to make it 10-0, but Tynedale were at last starting to show signs of getting into the game.

Snowdon was held up over the line from a forward drive, and on 21 minutes, Tynedale got on the scoresheet with a Parker penalty.

Fylde seemed to flag as the half went on, and went down to 14 men on 34 minutes when lock Matt Garrod was sin-binned for malpractice at a maul.

Tynedale used their extra man to good effect, and when Outson produced a clever kick through, The effervescent Bell popped up unexpectedly on the wing to race through to score.

Better was to follow, as a Fylde clearance failed to find touch, and Bell gathered to romp through like a Grand National winner to touch down under the sticks.

Parker’s conversion was a formality, and Tynedale somewhat unexpectedly lead 15-10 at the break.

Once restored to full strength, Fylde showed why they have reached such heights in the league, with some scintillating play bringing them four tries in rapid succession. First, Grimes grabbed his second, and three minutes later, prop Elliot Hortner bustled in from a good move, with Smith converting.

Minutes later, Fylde created a huge overlap for right wing Tom Carleton to go in for a converted try, before Grimes completed his hat-trick to take the score to 34-15 just 16 minutes into the half. Fylde seemed to relax a little, but Tynedale were far from finished, They rallied well, and with eight minutes left, a period of forward pressure ended with Clarkson going in just to the right of the posts, with Parker converting.

An ever so slightly forward pass denied Guy Pike a score, and deep into injury time, crisp handling saw winger Will Roberts dart in for Tynedale’s four try bonus point. There was still time for another surge before Fylde were able to hoof the ball into touch with great relief to end the game. Tynedale are at bottom club Scunthorpe next Saturday.