WEST Hartlepool came back from 15-0 down to win their rearranged game at Durham City 19-15 and edge back into the promotion play-off spot in North One East.

Centre Liam Checksfield scored two tries for West after late cry-offs had forced them to hand a debut to 18-year-old winger Adam Peacock and bring in Fraser Handley in the second row.

The losing bonus point did little to ease City's relegation fears and they will be desperate to end their run of defeats at home to Malton and Norton this week.

A converted try by Chris Metcalfe following an early penalty by Peter Armstrong made it 10-0 at half-time, and the lead was stretched by a fine individual try from winger Tom Elliott.

But a yellow card for flanker Craig Dominic disrupted City and after 50 minutes West kicked a penalty to touch then moved the ball left for Zac Southern to squeeze through a gap to score.

Gavin Painter converted and was also on target after the second of Checksfield's two tries.

A second successive defeat for Barnard Castle, who lost 27-6 at Consett, left them facing a tense four-match run-in to secure the promotion play-off spot in Durham and Northumberland One.

It could be decided on the last day, April 22, when they entertain Westoe, who moved level with them by thrashing bottom club Ryton 74-5.

Both teams face a tough match on April 8, when Barney visit Stockton and Westoe go to Middlesbrough, who will be looking for a strong finish after a heavily depleted side lost the Yorkshire Shield semi-final 15-10 at home to Wath-on-Dearne.

Wath were worthy of their 15-3 lead until Boro got on top in the last 20 minutes, when back row man Marcus Lang scored a try, converted by Matthew Todd.

Gateshead reached the final of the Durham Intermediate Cup with a 31-7 win at Sunderland after leading 7-0 at half-time.

The second half, saw Gateshead take control with tries by full back Scott Cartner, winger Adam Ridley, flanker Lewis Lacey and fly half Jonathan Foster. Cartner kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Gateshead thirds converted all 13 tries in a 91-5 win away to Houghton Boars, 12 of them landed by fly half Ben Wade.

Blaydon's Keith Laughlin led England Counties to a 34-26 against an Ireland Club XV in Cork, where a late surge was needed to quell the Irish.

With Blaydon prop Trevor Davison also in the line-up, this was England's second win of the season following their 45-28 victory over Scotland in February.