AFTER six wins on the trot shot them up to sixth in National Three North, Darlington Mowden Park's hopes of climbing any higher were hit by a second successive defeat.

With three games left they are six points adrift of fourth-placed Halifax, who beat them 21-8 on Saturday and visit Mowden this week.

Mowden looked likely to overhaul Tynedale to become the top North-East club after Newcastle, but the Corbridge team enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable 48-15 win at Blaydon.

It left Blaydon in the mire, and although they still have to visit relegated Scunthorpe they will be anxious to win at home to second bottom Hull Ionians this week.

Mowden, who remain sixth, are at home again on April 5 to Liverpool St Helens, who are just below them on points difference, then end their campaign at Hull.

As they prepare for the rematch with Halifax, Mowden will look at their discipline as they conceded 27 penalties, which cost them dear.

They led 8-6 at half-time and there were excellent performances from lock Ian Robinson and flanker Vaha Faleovalu, while Jonno Wilson also did well on his return at centre.

Mowden replied to an early Halifax penalty with a 17th minute try when Vaha beat two men and Wilson straightened the attack before flipping a scoring pass to winger Steve Jones.

But Mowden's only other reward for 20 minutes of total domination was a penalty by Mark Bedworth and when Halifax got back on top they also landed a penalty just before half-time.

The hosts worked a good try on the resumption, then came a decisive moment when Wilson made a cracking run.

He got over the line and the referee was raising his arm to award a try when a linesman flagged for a foot in touch.

Midway through the half Mowden were not pleased when a punch-up resulted in another penalty for Halifax. They also missed one and Mowden were still in the game at 14-8, but with ten minutes left Halifax added a converted try.

Blaydon were unable to mask the inferiority of their depleted backs against Tynedale, who woke up to the fact after 25 minutes.

They led only 6-3 at that stage, but then Alistair Hopps suddenly shot clear to score and seven minutes later Barry Hills escaped on halfway. He put Ben Duncan over for the first of his two tries as Tynedale continued to run at their hosts.

Former Newcastle player Jimmy Cartmell broke away to set up a try for fellow flanker Grant Rastall, and with Phil Belgian adding a conversion to his three penalties Blaydon trailed 26-3 before they began to fight back.

Winger Graeme Spearman went close before centre Nathan Ridd sent No 8 Tom McLaren under the posts. Lee Hogarth converted, but in a frantic finish Duncan, Hills and No 8 Andrew Murray scored for Tynedale and Belgian added another penalty, the sole reply coming from Spearman.

Westoe completed a county cup double when their seconds beat Billingham 32-13 at Sunderland and their fourths retained the shield with a 5-3 win against Consett. Mowden Park won the Third Teams Cup with an 8-3 win against Blaydon.

After halting their slide by clinching promotion at the first attempt from Durham and Northumberland Division One last week, Northern reassured themselves that they can survive in North Two East by winning their county cup tie at Alnwick 23-20. They were helped by two interception tries