TYNEDALE 12
DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK 55
THE candles on Tynedale’s 150th anniversary celebration cake were cruelly snuffed out by a high-powered Darlington Mowden Park side on Saturday.
Tynedale went into their first home game of the season with high hopes, with victory over Sheffield Tigers the previous week, and having done the double over Mowden Park last season.
But this Darlington side was a totally different animal to last season, as a close link has been forged with Newcastle Red Bulls to develop the best young players in the North-East.
The Mowden Park side was simply bristling with youngsters dual registered with the Red Bulls academy, and Tynedale were ruthlessly swept aside
The visitors ran in nine tries, and even survived having three players yellow carded within a minute at the end of the first half to give Tynedale a three-man advantage for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Electrifying pace, quick hands and good distribution gave Park the edge in all departments, as shell-shocked Tyne were 36-0 down after less than half an hour.
It was a tough watch, which left some disgruntled Tyne fans claiming it was unfair for an amateur side to face professionals – even young ones.
However, others pointed out that half a dozen or so of the visitors had enjoyed spells at Tynedale on a dual registered basis – including two of the try scorers, Jacob Oliver and Ben Douglas!
It was a day to forget for the Blue and Whites, as tackles were missed, kicks misplaced and the line-out was something of a shambles throughout.
As well as try scorers Oliver and Douglas, the Mowden Park squad included ex-Blue and Whites Harrison Wood, Charlie Turnbull and Liam Checksfield.
Tynedale started brightly enough, dominating the scrum, but in the third minute, a good break from midfield put fleet-footed winger Mark Williams in for a try, converted by full-back Charlie Dineen.
Six minutes later opposite wing Alfie Warwick blasted in from a blind side break and on 15 minutes, another fine break saw Dineen coast in for a try he converted himself to open up a 19-0 lead.
A string of missed tackles brought the bonus point try for Warwick on 18 minutes before two tries in four minutes from fly-half Junior Newton saw Tynedale in big trouble at 36-0 down.
Tynedale did rally strongly at the end of the half, applying good pressure on the Park line, resulting in a string of penalties before referee Andrew Shaw’s patience ran out, and he awarded a penalty try.
The decision sparked a tussle, with some big punches thrown, but it was for “technical offences” ex-Tynedale men Turnbull and Checksfield saw yellow along with team-mate Elvis Kitenge-Fuki.
Even with three extra players, Tynedale were able to make little inroad into the 36-7 interval deficit, other than a 44th minute try from a forward drive for replacement Tom Campbell which sparked further fisticuffs,
Once restored to full complement, Park stretched away again with another try for Williams, a stroll in for ex-Tynedale scrum-half Ben Douglas and number nine from former Tynedale favourite Jacob Oliver.
There were few crumbs of comfort for Tynedale, although centre Joe Beaty did put in some crunching tackles, and there were some decent breaks by back row Joe Hanning.
It gets no easier for Tynedale, for this Saturday they go to Sedgley Park, who have won both their opening fixtures – including a 47-26 win over Darlington Mowden Park.
Sedgley Park were relegated from National One last term, but have signed new players, and will provide stiff opposition.
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