LUCTONIANS 'crumbled' under the pressure of the relegation fight and conceded six tries without response at rivals Blaydon ending in a 30-0 defeat.

The Kingsland based side headed to Tyneside knowing that victory would cut the gap to safety significantly, with their hosts sitting five points above them.

However, head coach Ryan Watkins was left disappointed after seeing his side fold under the pressure.

"We had an exciting opening 30 minutes and then crumbled which was really disappointing," said Watkins.

"We gave up too quickly and thought that the game had gone. Even when we have gone 20 points behind in the past we have proven that we can get league points if we keep going.

"All it needed was a couple of scores and we would have been playing for a losing bonus point or would have been back in the game.

"If we had scored in that opening 30 minutes I think we would have gone on to win it."

After surviving the Luctonians' pressure early in the game the hosts took a 17th minute lead when lock Matt Charlton finished a move after skipper Keith Laughlin was held up.

Straight from the re-start Blaydon went 10-0 ahead with a second try from pacey winger Jack Appleton.

Matt Thompson scored a third try from close range on 37 minutes and Appleton secured the bonus point before the break to give them a 20-0 lead.

Following a half-time talking to Luctonians started the second half stronger with scrum-half Sam Boxhall leading the attack, but a combination of infringements and resolute defending stopped them crossing the whitewash.

After once again surviving the pressure unscathed Blaydon responded with Joe Whyman and Harry Borthwick scoring tries to complete the rout.

Luctonians face a long trip back up to the North East this weekend when they play promotion chasing Tynedale.

Despite sitting 10 points from safety with six games remaining Watkins is not giving up yet.

"It's still mathematically possible and I won't give up," he added.

"We did very well against Tynedale at home and only lost in the last play of the game and we are better against the better teams in the league."