After another enforced break the previous week, Tynedale Raiders extended their winning run with a home victory over Blaydon Georgians.

The December weather turned out to be good for rugby for a game billed as a local derby, with Tynedale winning the Candy League fixture 48-31.

Tynedale started the brighter and took the lead after only four minutes when a fine outside break from Rory Cramb led to some quick hands and a run into the corner for Seb Jansen. The score was ably converted from wide out by influential fly half Cam Grant, who had a fine game.

The game ebbed and flowed, and with 10 minutes played, Blaydon scored a try of their own following a series of close quarter drives.

Tynedale went on the attack from the restart, and Callum Morrell, looking very comfortable in the back row, showed great footwork to beat his man and feed the hard-working Ed Craney to dive in for try number two. The Georgians struck again with another try on 25 minutes, but Tynedale dominated the remainder of the first half, with two superb team tries finished off by Dicky Dunn and a second for Jansen, both converted by Grant.

Blaydon scored on the stroke of half time to reduce the deficit to 26-17.

With a full bench, Tynedale brought on fresh legs after the break and Tom McCullough, James Clark and Rob Parker all returned to action following work overseas, a playing sabbatical and injury respectively.

Just five minutes into the second half, Tynedale extended their lead when quick feet by man of the match John Clarkson caught the defence napping.

Ten minutes later, Tynedale scored again when Harry Remnant was the recipient of a fine break by Grant on 55 minutes.

Not to be outdone, Blaydon came back yet again to close the gap to 36-24. Remnant then made good ground down the wing and fed centre Cramb to score, making it 43-24 with 20 minutes to play.

After one more Blaydon score, Tynedale scored arguably the best try of the game. Parker attacked from deep and exchanged passes with Remnant before putting Clarkson in for his second score with an inside pass.

The Raiders host Billingham on January 4.