Darlington Mowden Park

Mowden kicked off, and the Durham side started brightly, with good runs by the scrum half and inside centre. However, a ruck formed on the right of the Durham 22m line, and, in what was to become the pattern of the first half, following excellent work by the Mowden pack, Tom Oldham seized the opportunity, shrugged off several tackles and scored an excellent try, which was well converted from a tricky position by the reliable Tom Catterick.

Durham continued to push, but the strength and courage of the Mowden pack and the pace and opportunism of Tom Oldham saw three further tries scored by him, to give a half time score of 26-0 in Mowden's favour.

The second half commenced in the same fashion as the first, with Durham continuing to put up a spirited fight and almost scoring a deserved try, which was only prevented due to a great tackle from Mowden's winger, Adam Walker. Mowden were now playing their best rugby of the season, with wonderful passing moves and overlaps all along the backs, and from one of these Dan Gordon made a great break only to be tackled 5m. from the Durham line. From the resulting ruck, Adam Farrow reacted superbly to dive over for a try.

Still Mowden pressed, and further well worked tries were scored by Paul Marwood (2), Alex Gray and a fifth for Tom Oldham.

Durham, however, showing great team spirit, had the last word when, following good defence on their own 22m line, the ball broke to a Durham back who ran the length of the field to score under the posts, the conversion was made and the final score was Mowden 53, Durham 7.

Once again, this had been a match in which the extremely high quality of Mowden was matched by the determination of the Durham lads, none of whom allowed their heads to drop.

Mowden Under-17s completed a good double against Houghton, having won away from home in mid-October.

Mowden were off to a strong start, although marred by some lost balls in the tackles, but within ten minutes Houghton began fighting back and gaining ground. Finally, after 20 minutes play, an excellent move through multiple phases saw the ball move along the line both ways, and eventually back to Chris Dodd who cut in to score near the posts. Jason Todd converted. Most of the rest of the half was Houghton's, culminating in some strong pressure where they were never more than ten metres from the Mowden line, but could not break through the determined, well-organised defence.

Houghton got the first blood in the second half, however, with a penalty goal resulting from a failure to release the ball in the ruck 8 metres out in front of the posts. Mowden exercised quick revenge when, from the restart, Houghton also held on to the ball in the ruck, and Jason Todd kicked the penalty from some 28 metres out just to the right of the posts. Ten minutes later, Mowden won another penalty on the 22 metre line. Richard Littlefair made the hard yards and set up quick ball which was worked out to Jason Elliott. He missed out the winger open to his right and used his elusive skills to dart inside to score, eluding three tackles in the process. Another fine move along the line enabled Chris Dodd to take out his man and set Jason Todd free for a 40-metre run in. After a long stream of penalties for infringements in and around the ruck and maul, they were able to go over, and the conversion was the last act of the game. Final score Mowden Park 20, Houghton-le-Spring 10.

It took only Mowden Under-14s five minutes to settle against Durham City when a break from man of the match Luke Kelly broke from the scrum to feed the ball to Captain James Park to score in the corner. The floodgates opened.

With the next move a pick up Charlie Philbin released to the ever improving Simon Price to score under the posts. Daniel Wilson converting. Again Mowden won line out ball with Joe Mercer scoring. Straight from kick off again Joe Mercer caught the ball, popped it back to Luke Kelly who ran through to score. Luke again scored just before half time. Mowden made changes in the second half but still Durham couldn't break through. James Park scored under the posts after seven minutes. A terrific hands by Chris Emmerson released James Park to score his hat trick. Five minutes later the Haithwaite brothers Liam and Thomas passed the ball then looped to set up a try for James Park. Daniel Carter converting. Not to be out done Luke Kelly ended the game with a final try scored from his own touchline making the post before he collapsed exhausted after making the final score a 59-0 Mowden win.