NORTHUMBERLAND held out in the County Championship’s northern derby, as the Bill Beaumont Cup got underway.

Saturday’s meeting at Tynedale saw the hosts hold on for a 24-19 victory in Pool Two, this despite a resurgent Durham battling back from a 10-point half-time deficit.

The opening match of the county campaign saw two Blaydon team- mates contesting the toss as hooker Matt Hall skippered Northumberland, with centre Tom Rock leading the Durham charge.

The home side were in front as early as the first minute, with Tynedale wing Alan Rogers crossing the try-line for Percy Park fullback Ashley Smith to add the extras.

Tynedale’s Tom Bramwell added a second for Northumberland, and it was a proud day for the Corbridge- based club as they made up 10 of the county’s starting XV.

Billingham fly-half Joe Evans got Durham off and running with a converted try, but Rogers’ second extended the half-time score to 17-7.

Straight from the second-half restart that lead was increased further, as Tynedale centre Hamish Smales crossed on a pitch where he had scored a hat-trick against Blaydon just five days earlier.

Looking like turning into a rout, Durham’s resolve saw them battle back into contention as West Hartlepool centre Andrew Dixon crossed to get them into double figures.

Blaydon wing Frazier Wilson got the maroons back to within a try with his late score, but an anxious Northumberland side held out to claim the spoils.