A HAT-TRICK by Jason Smithson was not enough to save Blaydon from a 27-26 home defeat by Loughborough Students on Saturday.

Two bonus points eased them further away from the relegation places, however, taking them ahead of Hull Ionians.

Back row man Smithson is now the joining leading try scorer in National One with 20. His treble on Saturday all came in the second half, via the usual catch-and-drive route, as Blaydon turned a 15-7 interval deficit into a 26-22 lead.

But whereas a thrilling run by Zach Kibirige had been halted by a last-ditch ankle tap, an equally sharp visiting winger scooted in from 25 metres for the winning score.

There was still time for Blaydon to win it, but after several drives for the line were thwarted they opted for a drop goal, which Andrew Baggett pushed just wide.

The students were jubilant at the final whistle, having been under pressure for much of the second half after dominating the first period partly through their superior handling.

They managed to repel the driving mauls in the first half and it was when Blaydon finally let the ball out that scrum half Nathan Horsfall nipped over.

An exchange of tries on the resumption meant the gap remained unchanged until Smithson added his second and third in the 64th and 70th minutes, Baggett converting.

Kibirige, by now at full back, threatened to settle the issue, but it was not to be.

There was also a one-point margin in Tynedale's match at Chester, but for them a last-minute kick went over for a 23-22 win.

It ended a run of defeats and eased their relegation fears in National Two North with Rob Parker proving the hero.

The fly half took over the kicking duties, which have been troublesome since Ash Smith was injured, and kicked three penalties as well as converting two first half tries.

He scored the second himself as Tynedale opened a 17-5 interval lead. They had slipped 22-20 behind until Parker struck at the death.

Durham City's hopes of reaching Twickenham in the National Intermediate Cup were ended by a storming finish from their Cumbrian visitors, St Benedicts.

City fought back from a 20-5 deficit shortly after half-time to lead 22-20 with ten minutes left. But the Whitehaven club ran in three more tries to win 37-22 and reach the semi-finals.

After taking an early lead through a try by full back Phil Stewart, City quickly found they had a battle on their hands and didn't score again until young winger Sam Heron crossed in the second half.

Fly half Paul Armstrong converted then kicked a penalty and when he also converted his own excellent try City were ahead. But with their big pack keeping going until the end the Cumbrians were not to be denied.

City's consolation came with news that Middlesbrough's hopes of catching them in the battle for the automatic promotion spot in Durham and Northumberland One all but vanished with a 28-27 defeat at Novos.

A last-minute penalty left Boro facing a play-off against Malton and Norton, who lie second in Yorkshire One. Boro cannot afford any more defeats if they are to have home advantage.

As Saturday was originally a free day in the schedule several players were missing, the only regular backs available being Sam Gaudie and Rhys Kilbride.

A late withdrawal by Joe Gaudie due to illness meant that Liam Baxter came in at full back for his debut.

Novos opened the brighter and kicked a penalty after six minutes. Gaudie replied five minutes later but then the home No 8 picked from a scrum 22 metres out and fed the scrum half, who ran under the posts unopposed.

Boro hit back when they moved the ball right then left and Euan Tremlett drew a tackle before offloading to Jack Bircham, who dummied the final defender to score. Gaudie converted to make it 10-10.

Novos added a penalty but Boro drove over from a line-out ten metres out to lead 15-13 at the interval.

It remained nip and tuck as both teams scored from line-outs early in the second half, Liam Wilson grabbing Boro's third try to make it 20-20.

But barely had the game restarted when poor defending on the blind side of a maul allowed a Novos player to peel off and score.

It still seemed Boro would snatch victory when Josh Lynas burst on to a short pass and drove over close to the posts, Gaudie's conversion earning a 27-25 lead with minutes to go.

But Novos had two chances to win it and after one penalty came back off a post and the bar the second attempt, from out on the left, sailed through the posts.

*With three Darlington Mowden Sharks in their line-up, England Women held off a determined Wales to land a 20-13 victory at the Stoop on Saturday.

With just France left to play on Friday, England have won four from four. The side includes Mowden's La Toya Mason at scrum half and her forward colleagues Tamara Taylor and Abbie Scott, with Heather Kerr on the bench.

Friday night's game at the Stade de la Rabine, Vannes, will give England the chance of landing their first Six Nations title since 2012.