DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK moved up to third place in National One with a 37-12 home win against Cambridge.

Whereas crowds regularly topped 1,000 last season, fewer than 800 watched the new-look side score five tries in building a 31-0 lead early in the second half.

Substitutions disrupted the flow and Cambridge scored twice in the final quarter, but they were well beaten after making a promising start following promotion.

Rory Duff had a fine game at No 8, which could pose a problem when skipper Ollie Hodgson is fit again, and that could coincide with the return of another back row man, Simon Uzokwe.

All Mowden's tries came between the 30th and 47th minutes, the first being sparked by a Ben Frankland interception on halfway. Winger Will Murray took it on and fly half Caolan Ryan finished wide out.

He added the first of his three conversions and also kicked a penalty before his replacement, Sam Allan, landed a late one.

Flanker Matt Heaton and centre Chris Auld set up the second try for Duff, then Sanit Socino and Talite Vaioleti put in the groundwork for winger Joel Gill to touch down.

Frankland and Murray completed the spree early in the second half.

Blaydon must be questioning whether they are fit enough after blowing up for the third successive week. They led 13-3 at half-time at Moseley, but lost 41-13 to remain bottom of the table.

Having the wind at their backs helped Blaydon in the first half, but after conceding six second half tries coach Micky Ward will want a reaction at home to Macclesfield this week.

Winger Dan Marshall pounced on a stray pass to score Blaydon's only try, Andrew Baggett adding the conversion and a penalty, while scrum half Nathan Horsfall landed a drop goal.

Billingham discovered there is a huge gulf between the top and bottom sides in Three North when they followed their 99-7 win against Waterloo with a 34-12 defeat at Huddersfield.

West Hartlepool consolidated top spot in North One East with a 29-15 win at Guisborough. West are one point ahead of the other unbeaten team, Penrith, who beat Durham City 51-8.

Although Guisborough fly half Christian Pollock looked lively with an interception try, conversion and penalty, West's set piece dominance made the difference.

Tries by Peter Youll, Gavin Painter and Liam Checksfield gave them a 15-12 interval lead then Michael Hogan and Sam Miller forced their way over after the break.

Three of the four unbeaten records vanished in Durham and Northumberland One, leaving Gateshead clear at the top after a 31-12 win at Gosforth.

The biggest shock was Horden's 15-7 home defeat by Westoe, who had squandered a 20-point lead against Gateshead in losing their first three games following relegation.

Previous leaders Northern lost 26-22 away to Hartlepool Rovers, for whom a late try by Andrew Dring completed a fightback from 15-0 down.

Novos' late rally came too late to prevent a 34-30 defeat at Middlesbrough, who were much-improved, despite the absence of Richard Lonsdale with a worrying recurrence of his hip problem.

Despite facing the wind, they recovered from conceding an early try to lead 17-8 at half-time and forged 34-17 ahead before three yellow cards for technical offences disrupted them.

Lock Euan Tremlett scored two tries, while back row men Liam Wilson and Ash Kearney also crossed. Fly half Matthew Todd kicked the conversions and two penalties.

Barnard Castle remain fifth but had to settle for a losing bonus point from a 12-10 defeat at Hartlepool, as did bottom club Stockton in losing 19-15 at Consett.