Panthers 74 - Gateshead Thunder 6
 The Thunder may have been clapped out but take nothing away from this storming Panthers display, easily the biggest win in their history.
Blackpool's previous 30 matches in the Northern Rail Trophy had brought only one victory, but this 14-try spectacular ensured that for once the start-of-season tournament will not have been wiped from every Panthers supporter's memory by the time the league campaign begins next month.
Hooker Martin Keavney notched a hat-trick, every back scored at least once and scrum-half Tom Hemingway contributed 22 points.
The Panthers racked up all 34 first-half points in the opening 24 minutes, scoring five tries in the first 13 during which time Gateshead had possession only once.
Thunder operated a league above Blackpool last year but were relegated because of a financial crisis which has forced them to build a completely new side.
They were behind after only 50 seconds, Kris Ratcliffe making the break down the right before play was swung left for Carl Forber to send centre Martin Ainscough crashing over.
The impressive Ainscough had a pair by the five-minute mark, again put in by stand-off Forber who was keen to make amends after being dragged off at half-time in the season's first home game against Keighley.
The home side scored again straight from the restart as skipper Andy Hobson busted through the first tackle to send Keavney on a 70-metre sprint to the line.
Forber was denied a try when Kurt Heggarty's inside ball ruled forward, but Blackpool won the resulting scrum against the head and winger Damien Munro scored from Hemingway's 11th-minute kick to the left corner.
Two minutes later slick handling down the right resulted in Tom Woodcock kicking down the touchline for loose forward Heggarty to score.
Panthers had to wait a whole eight minutes for their next try, scored by replacement hooker John Clough, another of Blackpool's stand-out players, after more fine work by Ainscough.
Clough was soon involved in the final try of the half, finished by Paul Ballard from another pinpoint kick to the corner by Hemingway.
Ballard was filling in at centre for the suspended Casey Mayberry, vacating the full-back berth for Jonny Leather to make his first appearance after injury.
Leather did not assume goalkicking responsibilities as he eased his way back, and Gateshead were probably glad he didn't as Hemingway converted only three of the seven tries.
The final 16 minutes of the first half saw Gateshead finally shut their defensive stable door, but by that time their horse had not only bolted but was halfway back to the North-East.
Panthers, 34-0 up at half-time, were no doubt challenged by coach Martin Crompton to keep the visitors scoreless in the second half, though that target had escaped them within five minutes of the restart, Tabua Cakacaka crashing over after the home side conceded two offside penalties in quick succession. Hooker Ryan Clarke converted.
Normal service had been resumed by the 55-minute mark as Keavney completed his treble with two tries in as many minutes, both from defence-shattering breaks by captain Hobson.
Hemingway's diagonal burst brought up the half-century for only the second time in the club's history on 64 minutes, then three minutes later Leather collected a grubber on his own try-line and raced the full length to end his afternoon's work in magnificent style.
Woodcock was denied a try when Forber's long pass was ruled forward but Ballard was soon strolling in for his second on 70 minutes.
Forber applied the finishing touch for the 13th try with five minutes left after Woodcock combined well with Mark McCully down the right.
And from the final play of the game, Ballard's skilful offload paved the way for Ainscough to send Munro charging over for his second, Hemingway landing a ninth goal from 14 attempts.
Panthers Team: Leather, Munro, Ballard, Ainscough, Woodcock, Forber, Hemingway, Fairhurst, Keavney, Hobson, Ratcliffe, Boland, Heggarty;
Replacements: Alcock, Anderson, Clough, McCully.
Source: Blackpool Gazette
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