Shields kick off and spend the first 20 minutes camped inside the Blyth half. However a series of errors when close to the line means they come away without reward.

From the start it’s a very physical game with big defensive hits from both sides.

Midway through the first half Blyth begin to find their rhythm and begin to cause Shields a lot of problems with their hard running attack, which gets them the first score of the game. The conversion is successful and they lead 0-7

Shields finally get on the board very late in the first half. Substitute Declan Crawford within a minute of coming in the pitch hits a hard line and opens a gap in the Blyth defence. He then calmly offloads of Taylor Burn who beats the last Blyth defender to score under the post. A successful conversion from Brandon Livingston levels the score 7-7.

HT

The second half like the first is packed full of hard tackles. Both teams giving it their all in both attack and defence.

Blyth get the first score of the half to once again lead. Another hard line causing the shields defence all sorts of problems. Conversion missed 7-12

South Shields however respond with one of the team tries of the season. A line out sees Dan Hodgson go up and collect the ball. The call from captain Lewis Wilson is to maul. The entire forward pack gets Shields driving forward. From 25 meters out it looks a long way to line. But step by step they match the Blyth pack backwards. Jason Smith then had the simplest of jobs to touch down over the line. Brandon Livingston again with the conversion 14-12 shields now leading for the first time in the match.

In an extremely back and forth game it is once again Blyth who get the next score. Some unusually slack tackling from the Shields defence, sees Blyth lead once again. Conversion successful 14-19.

With ten minutes left on the clock shields know they still have it all to do. However this team has shown time and time again they have the team spirit and togetherness to get themselves out of situations like this.

After more great work in the forwards Shields ship the ball wide to Taylor Burn who shrugs off one defender beats another with a step and again goes the remaining length of the field to score. Brandon Livingston again with the conversion which puts Shields back into the lead. 21-19

With 2 minutes left on the clock Shields work the ball up the field via a succession of penalties. The forwards begin to work their phases. The ball is knock loose to the ground and quick reactions from Chris Wann sees him the first man to react. He picks up and dives over the line to win the game for the home side. 26-19

FT