Mowden Park 3rds got of to a bad start at home to Gateshead in the semi final of 3rd Team County Cup by giving away a penalty in front of their posts two minutes into the game, which Gateshead's fly-half duly converted.

From the restart a ruck developed inside Gateshead's 22m and DMP retained possession, the ball was quickly retrieved by fly half Stuart Edwardson who shipped it wide to winger Alan Evans who burst through to score.

The next 30 minutes saw Mowden on the back foot as Gateshead's attack intensified, but Mowden's sound defence remained in tact.

Just before the break, a scrum on Mowden's 10m line saw Scrum half Roger Prior move the ball out to Evans who sprinted 50m and over the Gateshead line to score Brian Riley converted to end the first half.

Fifteen minutes into the second half saw a good individual try from Prior who picked up from the base of the scrum sold a dummy and sprinted 15m to score a try which he converted himself. With 12 minutes to go the best try of the day was scored as the forwards raced from 30m out interlinking and supporting each other which finally saw Andrew Tonkin over the line, Prior converted to end the match at 26-3 to Mowden who will meet Blaydon in the final on March 22