DESPITE suffering their ninth defeat in the last ten games, Darlington Mowden Park did well enough at Bradford and Bingley to suggest they can overhaul Rugby Lions to avoid the third relegation spot in National Three North.

Against a side pressing for promotion, Mowden led 8-0 until the last 15 minutes and finally lost 13-8, but still gained a precious bonus point.

They are one point behind Rugby with a game in hand, although both will hope to drag Darlington or Blaydon back into the relegation picture tomorrow. Mowden must win at home to Tynedale, while Rugby entertain Dudley Kingswinford, who look doomed in second bottom place.

Darlington visit Blaydon and whichever side wins will feel comfortable, while the losers will be left looking for two wins from the last four games to ensure safety.

In Darlington's case they should come from home games against Rugby (April 2) and Kendal (April 23), although nothing can be taken for granted on the strength of last Saturday's struggles.

They made hard work of winning 25-18 at home to bottom club Bedford Athletic and, as in the previous week's win against Dudley, they fell one short of the four-try bonus point.

Darlington are, however, five points clear of Mowden, who will feel they are due some luck in the five remaining games.

They suffered two doses of double misfortune at Bradford, the first coming when they lost two players at the same time after 25 minutes. With lock Naude Pretorius down with a dislocated shoulder, play went on and Gareth Kerr, who was just back from injury, raced up the wing and pulled a muscle.

Kelekolio Paino switched from No 6 to lock, with Matt Holmes going on to do a good job in the back row, while Michael Georgiou went on at inside centre.

Mowden were also unlucky with two attempts either side of half-time to score tries from penalties ten metres from the posts.

In the first instance the hosts made no attempt to retire ten metres and stopped Mowden three metres short, and the second time flanker Jason Smithson got over the line, but the referee said he had not taken the penalty through the mark.

The referee's inconsistencies were highlighted when the hosts scored the try which put them ahead with eight minutes left.

They also went for a quick penalty close to the line and, even though they got over, Mowden lock Ian Robinson was sin-binned for trying to interfere with the taking of the penalty. It was his third yellow card in recent weeks and left Mowden with 14 men for the rest of the game.

They also had Paino sin-binned just before half-time after a general warning that the next player penalised would be off.

But Mowden deservedly hung on to their early 5-0 lead, which stemmed from seven or eight phases of recycling with good handling finally sending winger Michael Breen over.

Smithson's disallowed try came shortly after half-time and the next time Mowden were awarded a penalty they opted to kick it, Iain Dixon putting them 8-0 ahead.

Bradford then used the wind to get on top, but they had a man sin-binned after 50 minutes and, with Mowden defending well, it was a further 15 minutes before Bradford opened their account with a penalty.

Seven minutes later came the crucial try, which was also converted, and the hosts added a long-range penalty before missing a simpler one which would have denied Mowden the bonus point.

Darlington twice drove young flanker Michael Taylor over for tries to clinch the victory against Bedford which lifted them one more place to sixth from the bottom.

But they again started slowly, falling 10-0 behind in the first ten minutes and, even after going ahead, they had to hang on grimly at the end.

They first put themselves under pressure by sending a 22-metre drop-out into touch on the full, and when Del Lewis missed a tackle Bedford scored a converted try after four minutes.

They added a penalty before a strong run down the middle by home winger Frankie Coulson ended with a visitor being yellow-carded for killing the ball under the posts.

David Kell kicked the penalty and added the conversion to level the scores when Taylor was driven over after 37 minutes.

But home flanker Martin Howe was sin-binned near the end of the first half and Bedford scored a good try in the corner to lead 15-10 at half-time.

They added a long-range penalty on the resumption and Darlington made three changes to help them get back on top.

They sent on Joe Naga for Lewis, who was not at his best, prop Joe Oselton for Paul Scott, and centre Richard Lang for Ben Snook.

Craig Lee, again at fly half in the absence of his brother Paul, made a good break and off-loaded well for half back partner Rob Stewart to score from ten metres and they went ahead with eight minutes left when Taylor was driven over for another converted try.

Kell added a penalty shortly afterwards, then Bedford dominated the last five minutes without reward.