BOTH Darlington clubs tuned up for next Saturday's Tetley's Bitter Cup ties by topping 40 points in their first league outings.

Mowden Park sounded a warning to the rest of North Division One by overpowering visitors Bradford and Bingley in the final quarter to win 43-9.

Experienced lock Steve Sanderson was outstanding, as was flanker Tony Irwin, who shared four tries with hooker Tasi Tuhana.

Partnered first by John Stewart then Richard Outhwaite, 18-year-old centre Mark Bedworth showed several glimpses of his exciting potential.

Winger Mick Kent and prop Dave Sinclair scored the other tries, with Kevan Oliphant adding five conversions and a penalty.

Use of the sin bin has been extended to all league games this season and three players spent ten minutes in the cooler during Middlesbrough's 27-14 win at home to Northern.

Two were visiting players in a keenly-contested match in which Boro led only 19-14 until new full back Steve Graham kicked a late penalty followed by the clinching try.

Flanker Ben Pattinson, a Yorkshire Under 21 player last season, scored two tries, others coming from winger Steve Jones and scrum half John Newton, a late replacement for skipper and coach Jon Wrigley.

Also in North One, Stockton lost 31-3 at home to Macclesfield while Blaydon had to hang on for a 20-17 win at home to Wigton after leading 20-6

The newcomers showed up well for Blaydon, with Gareth King, the former Wales Under 21 full back, scoring the first of their four unconverted tries, while scrum half Paul Foreman nipped over twice either side of half-time.

Fly half Ryan Roberts had a hand in two tries, including the one touched down by Kiwi centre John Marriott.

Darlington showed the benefits of their development programme when prop Joe Osleton, lock Richard Snowball and centre Kieron Thompson all played full parts in the 41-20 home win against Redcar in North Two (East). They also sent on another ex-colt in scrum half Robbie Stewart for the last 20 minutes.

There were two tries each for Craig Lee and Paul Beattie as Darlington played expansive rugby while Redcar's possession rarely got beyond ex-Rugby League international Garry Schofield at fly half.

The new rule that there can be no line-out within five metres of the line did not stop Redcar kicking penalties to the corner and three of their four tries came that way. One of them was scored by prop Paul Beal, who has returned after playing for West Hartlepool and Bedford.

But Darlington were always in control, except when a 29-5 half-time lead became 29-15 following their substitutions.

Thompson opened the scoring with a penalty and converted four of the six tries, the first of which was touched down by skipper David Andrew afer Osleton drove to within a metre of the line.

Lee and Beattie got the next two, then flanker Martin Howe finished a good move to complete the first half scoring.

Following a 30-minute lull, Darlington made certain of victory when Lee jinked down the middle to go under the posts. Then when Redcar finally opened out they dropped the ball and Beattie picked up to race over.

After winning only one game last season, West Hartlepool got off to a disappointing start in National Division Two when they lost 16-3 to Fylde at their new Brinkburn ground. Only a penalty separated the sides at half-time, but Fylde scored the only try two minutes after the restart to make it 10-0 and added two more penalties after new fly half Tom Winey found the target for West