A reasonable assumption as there are now three leagues between the clubs. However, Blaydon fielded a side drawn from their first team squad featuring a string of regular first teamers, a number of players hoping to impress coach Micky Ward, plus several players provided by Newcastle Falcons under the dual registration process.

Blaydon had a clean sweep of all the County Cups last season, and to their great credit always take the County competitions very seriously - despite being let down at the last minute by Mowden Park who cried off from the final back in May.

So the home side were fancied for a big win. Opinions quickly changed in the first ten minutes as we began the game much more organised, quicker and more decisive in every phase of the game.

We went into an early lead when No 8 Sam Miller – still too young to play in his favoured front row – picked up a full 60 metres from the opposition line and charged off down the right wing.

He had support on his outside which he used to throw two dummies as he rounded the cover to dive over in the corner. Stu Waites, who was to go on to have a tremendous game, as did half back partner Ryan Painter, put the conversion straight through the middle.

Blaydon were rocked and fought their way back into the game with quick ball from the backs sending the winger in at the corner to make it 7-5.

Any thoughts that we would now submit after our early burst were dismissed as we side played controlled and sensible rugby - mainly in the opposition half.

The much lighter West pack was far better technically pushing their illustrious rivals round the park.

As a result Waites had two more penalty opportunities which he slotted including one from just inside the Blaydon half.

The West pressure continued to frustrate the Blaydon players, and their increasingly concerned coaches, and it was no surprise when we went further ahead on 20 minutes.

The forwards secured ball on the left with Waites gathering on the 22 and sending in a deft chip over the heads of the Blaydon defence. Peter Youll was alert winning the foot race to touchdown and gives Waites the opportunity to put us into a 20-7 lead,

There was more to come. On the half hour  the West pack shoved their counterparts backwards to steal the ball and the dynamic Ryan Painter fed Waites who broke clear to find Andrew Cheslin coming onto the ball at speed.

The outside centre  beat two defenders to go over to give us a 27-5 lead at the break.

The only blemish on the half was the replacement of hard tackling Liam Bailey who suffered a hip injury.  Greg Edwards comin on in the centre.

The riot act was duly read to the Blaydon players at half time , and it looked like West’s bubble may have burst from the restart.

The visiting forwards should have secured the ball. Instead, it broke to the home backs who gratefully accepted the opportunity to get back in the game with a flowing move which ended in the right hand corner.

The home supporters were clearly anticipating a successful fightback. However,  we were equally impressive in defence as we had been in attack and continued to have the best of the forward battles.

Blaydon did get another try on the hour, after a driving maul, to make it 27-17 but our response was to go straight back up the pitch. Such was their confidence that an easy penalty shot was turned down for a scrum which almost saw Ryan Painter go over.

And with ten minutes left the West coaches had no compunction in changing half the pack bringing on Andrew Dixon, Ross Wood, Joe Myers and Alex Barker.

Wood’s first action was to put in a superb tackle to send a flying  Falcons' registered  winger into into touch – symbolic of the way his 21 teammates had performed all afternoon.

The attitude and application was superb all afternoon. There was a great improvement in accepting the ref's decisions and getting on with the game.

The result against some very experienced and up and coming players was throughly deserved - a fact sportingly recognised by Blaydon.

It's early days, but the promise is undoubtedly there with Horden next up at Brinkburn before the season gets underway at Northern the following Saturday.

West: Luke Mallinson, Tom Armstrong [Scott Butcher 55], Andrew Cheslin, Liam Bailey [Greg Edwards 37], Peter Youll, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins [Andrew Dixon 70], Adam Coates [Ross Wood 70], Michael Hogan [Jay Corbett 60], Owen Bennett [Alex Barker 70], Dan Boatman [Capt], Jon Boatman, Sam Miller [Joe Myers 70].

Referee:  Paul Fincken.