IT quickly became obvious last season that there wasn't room for three North-East teams in National One. Now it seems there might not be room for two.

Blaydon and Darlington Mowden Park occupy the bottom two spots, and after being relegated last season Tynedale are third from the bottom of Two North.

Given that their last three games have been away to sides in the top four, Mowden's struggles are not unexpected. They took the decision that a tough start was outweighed by hosting the All Blacks.

As in the trips to London in the previous two weeks, they were beaten in the first half at Ampthill, trailing 20-3 before rallying in a 32-20 defeat.

Things should now get easier with a relatively short trip to Wharfedale this week followed by a home match against Loughborough Students.

Wharfedale's only win has been at Blaydon and their strength, the pace of their back three, will be nullified by the cramped confines of their own ground.

Mowden introduced yet another newcomer off the bench in Ed Coulson, a full back or fly half on loan from Newcastle after moving from Bath.

A member of the England Under 20s squad, he went on at full back early in the second half and scored after three minutes.

Scrum half Bruno Bravo had nipped over on the stroke of half-time to give Mowden hope, but they leaked two more tries either side of Coulson's.

Hooker Simon Uzokwe finished off a fine move in the 80th minute for his fourth try of the season, but for the third successive week Mowden emerged from a brave fightback without a bonus point.

Garry Law had cancelled out an early Ampthill penalty, but the hosts' domination of the scrums produced another penalty and a penalty try before the No 8 drove over from a ruck.

The battering of the home forwards also produced their try straight after half-time as Mowden continue to ponder their best front row combination. Uzokwe and Darren Fearn were replaced inside 30 minutes but went back on late in the game.

Blaydon also suffered a fourth successive defeat, having to be content with a losing bonus point and an improved performance in going down 28-22 at home to Hartpury College.

Before taking control up front, Blaydon were surprisingly pushed off their own scrum ball in conceding one of the tries which saw them trail 15-3.

Dual-registered Newcastle hooker David Nelson, on after 20 minutes for the injured Victor Guignouard, began and finished a good move to make it 15-8 at half-time.

Blaydon drew level with the first of Jason Smithson's two tries when the pack drove over, only to quickly fall behind to a penalty before a visiting winger raced over from halfway.

Fly half Brett Connon again converted Smithson's second before a 20-minute stalemate was ended by the visiting kicker succeeding almost from halfway in the 76th minute.

Tynedale lost 31-23 at Sale FC, where three late tries from Matty Outson, Rory Dixon and Jack Harrison failed to secure a bonus point. Ash Smith added one conversion to his two penalties.

Having lost all three home games, Billingham chalked up a second away win in Three North when they beat Ilkley 34-29, earning two bonus points.

West Hartlepool lost their 100 per cent record in North One East when they lost 25-21 at Morley to slip to third place.

An injury to Adam Coates forced Michael Hogan into the front row AND he was voted Man of the Match by the opposition.

His two burst set up the first try for Ryan Painter, converted by Stu Waites, who added two penalties for a 13-7 lead. Morley went back in front before Chris Atkins finished a catch-and-drive and Waites' third penalty put West 21-15 ahead with ten minutes to go. But Morley responded with two more tires.

Guisborough secured a mid-table slot with a creditable 18-15 win at Alnwick, while Westoe's woes continued with a 57-3 home defeat by leaders Doncaster Phoenix.

Middlesbrough came back from 18-3 down at half-time to beat Ryton 37-24 and draw level with Durham City at the top of Durham and Northumberland One.

Attempts to attack misfired badly against a solid defence in the first half, but on the resumption Phil Harland atoned for his early sin-binning with a try, then Ryton received two yellow cards in quick succession.

A neat off-load by Euan Tremlett allowed Andy Micklewright to score under the posts, Jack Bircham converting, then a Ryton player's deliberate knock-on earned a penalty try.

Ryton kicked a penalty to make it 21-22 but Boro forged ahead when skipper Rob Bellerby looped round in midfield and broke through two defenders to score.

Mike Thornburn was driven over for the final try with Bircham adding his third conversion to his two penalties.

Stockton won 19-13 at home to Horden after trailing 13-6 following an 80-metre interception try early in the second half.

Flanker Liam Healey crashed over before Dan Phinn kicked his third penalty, then Martin Dixon touched down a pushover try.

When Stockton were under pressure at a scrum near their line with two minutes left coach Martin Howe sent on veteran prop Maurice Douthwaite, who earned a penalty and allowed them to clear the danger.

An improved performance by Darlington earned a losing bonus point in a 29-25 defeat at Gateshead and they will hope for their first win this week at home to an Acklam side who lost 23-9 at Durham City.

The top-of-the-table clash in division two was abandoned when the referee pulled up lame after 20 minutes with Barnard Castle leading 7-5 at Hartlepool.