Leslie stars for Tynedale in first home win of season

HEATH 24

ANOTHER masterclass from fly-half Josh Leslie saw Tynedale claim their first home win of the season at a sunny Corbridge on Saturday.

League newcomers Heath were put to the sword as Tynedale ran in six tries, two of them in the first 10 minutes from the mercurial Leslie.

It was a bizarre day for the fly-half, as he was eventually substituted, then brought back on – and immediately picked up a yellow card!

Tynedale were already 28-3 to the good by half-time against their Halifax-based opponents, who proved themselves no mugs with three well-worked tries in the second half.

Tynedale full-back Cam Grant enjoyed a perfect return to the starting XV by converting all six tries, and flanker Archie Rattray shone on his first appearance of the season, along with back row namesake Archie Fletcher.

Sadly, number eight Owen Vassallo, who missed much of last season through injury, went off with another injury after just seven minutes.

While the line-out once again was something of a lottery, the Tynedale forwards dominated proceedings elsewhere on the field, putting the visitors under a lot of pressure all over the field, with an outstanding display coming from lock Joe Hanning.

Tynedale made an electrifying start, taking the lead before many fans had settled into their seats.

A timely burst from Hanning saw him grab a slick Leslie pass, and then return the ball for the fly-half to scamper in under the sticks to give Grant the simplest of conversions.

The 7-0 lead became 14-0 on 11 minutes following another piece of Leslie magic, as he exchanged passes with Grant before looping round the full-back and going over again.

Promoted Heath were something of an unknown quantity, as the two sides had never met before, but the Yorkshire side had a decent pedigree, having won the North East regional championship last year by claiming victory in 21 of their 22 games.

They opened their account on 19 minutes when fly-half Chris Johnson landed a penalty after a period of pressure, but Tynedale were soon stretching away again, as scrum-half James Telford won the race to touch down a hopeful kick ahead. Grant’s conversion took the score to 21-3 on the half hour.

Tynedale ended the half with a flourish as a well-controlled drive from a line-out brought the bonus point try for hooker Will Graham, the conversion giving Tynedale a handsome 28-3 interval lead.

But Tynedale were not allowed to rest on their laurels, as Heath struck back with their first try five minutes into the second half.

From a line-out replacements Jonny Cole and Dan Smith linked well to send Smith in for a try, converted by Johnson.

Heath put together some good moves but strong Tyne defence and unfortunate fumbles meant that it was Tynedale who regained control with a Jimmy Lythgoe try on 52 minutes being followed by another from replacement Isaac Keller five minutes later to widen the gap to  42-10.

Then Leslie’s day took a new turn, as having been replaced by Tom Mann on 46 minutes  he was brought back on to replace fellow try scorer Telford seven minutes later – and on 65 minutes, was back on the bench having picked up a yellow card!

Heath used their extra man to good effect, with left wing Jake Haynes crossing for two tries on 66 and 78 minutes after some excellent handling.

They probably deserved a losing bonus point, but it was not to be.

The win lifted Tynedale to seventh place in National League Division Two North, and on Saturday they travel to Lancashire to take on ninth-placed Fylde.